Boggs? Hawk will take Baines

Wade Boggs thought he was worth $1.85 million this year. TheBoston Red Sox and an arbitrator said he was worth $1.35 million.

But White Sox operations chief Ken Harrelson says Boggs isn'tworth Harold Baines.

"To me, there is no comparison," Harrelson said yesterday. "I'drather have Baines."

"Harold Baines is the best hitter in the American League," Soxmanager Tony LaRussa said.

Boggs hit .368 last year with 240 hits, eight home runs and 78RBI. Baines hit .309 with 198 hits, 22 home runs and 113 RBI.

"I'm not trying to demean Wade, but if a game is on the line inthe ninth inning and you have to have a hit, I'd take (George) Brett,Baines or (Don) Mattingly," Harrelson said. "But Wade's role isdifferent than the other guys'."

Last year Boggs hit .397 with runners in scoring position and.401 from the seventh inning on in close games.

As a minor leaguer, Boggs was told he never would make it as athird baseman because he couldn't hit with power.

Harrelson said Boggs could become a power hitter if the Red Soxneeded one. But Red Sox coach Joe Morgan, who was Boggs' manager inthe minors, isn't so sure.

"He's the best two-strike hitter I've ever seen," Morgan said."But because of the way he swings (to the opposite field), he'd haveto sacrifice a lot of hits for more power."