Sosa's Decision Opens Door for Hidalgo

Future Hall-of-Famer Sammy Sosa's rejection of the National's $500,000 offer opens the door for free agent OF Richard Hidalgo, another right-handed power hitter most recently with Texas. Though Hidalgo is four years away from '03, when he batted .309 with 28 homers for the Astros, he is still only 30 and in some quarters is thought to have been held back in recent years by injuries which now may be behind him. Like Sosa, Hidalgo is seen by the Nats as a potential backup for the oft-troubled Jose Guillen. Sosa fans, meanwhile, are hopeful that a recent visitation to Sosa's Miami home by fellow Dominican Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees may indicate New York is looking at Sosa as a potential right-handed DH to complement switch-hitting DH Bernie Williams, who will bat left in a 7-hole platoon. Sosa has yet to announce his retirement.