The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Ken Griffey Jr. passed injured Sammy Sosa and into the second spot among National League outfielders in All-Star balloting released Monday.

Giants outfielder Barry Bonds leads all NL players with 1,196,386 votes. Griffey Jr. had 980,733 votes to 920,182 for Sosa.

Both hold strong leads over fourth-place outfielder Lance Berkman (762,248).

Adam Everett of the Astros has retaken the lead among shortstops in fan voting for next month's All-Star game at Houston.

Everett (625,055) passed St. Louis' Edgar Renteria (545,697) in the closest race at any position. Barry Larkin is fourth with 378,558 votes.

At first base, Sean Casey is running third, but has less than half phe votes of leader Albert Pujols.

CUBS: Ricky Gutierrez signed a one-year, minor-league deal with Chicago after being waived by the New York Mets earlier this season.

Gutierrez, who played for the Cubs from 2000-2001, became a free agent last month after starting 14 games at second base for the Mets. He hit .175 in 24 games.

The Mets acquired Gutierrez from Cleveland on March 28.

Gutierrez has a career average of .266 with 38 homers and 354 RBI in 1,098 games. He's also played with San Diego and Houston.

ANGELS: Anaheim activated first baseman Darin Erstad and put Gold Glove catcher Bengie Molina on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left calf.

Erstad was on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring. He will fill the roster spot left open when first baseman Casey Kotchman was sent to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.

Anaheim will make another move to replace Molina.

SHORT HOPS: Blue Jays radio announcer Tom Cheek underwent surgery during the weekend to remove a brain tumor and will require further treatment. Cheek had the operation on Sunday, his 65th birthday. He began feeling ill Friday and was taken to a Toronto hospital, where tests revealed the tumor.

• Jon Schuerholz, promoted from Class A to play in front of his father, had four hits to help the Atlanta Braves beat Minnesota 10-7 Monday in the Hall of Fame exhibition at Cooperstown, N.Y.

• Texas placed outfielder Laynce Nix on the 15-day disabled list, a day after he sprained his right shoulder running into the wall against St. Louis.

• New York Yankees reliever Steve Karsay canceled a scheduled rehabilitation start before he even took the mound Monday after he felt discomfort while warming up in the bullpen.

The right-hander had rotator cuff surgery in May 2003, and has appeared in four extended spring training games this season.