BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Ozzie Smith to Undergo Surgery Today

Ozzie Smith, the major leagues’ oldest opening-day shortstop in more than four decades, will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair damage to his rotator cuff.

Cardinal doctors have told Smith, 40, that he should be out for four to six weeks. Smith, who will have the surgery in St. Louis, said his rehabilitation program will begin Friday, and he hopes to play two or three more seasons after this year.

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Marge Schott, owner of the Cincinnati Reds, and the city’s top business executives have agreed to work on plans to build a ballpark next to Riverfront Stadium, the team’s current home.

Schott, who has considered moving the Reds from Cincinnati to get a new stadium, and members of the Cincinnati Business Committee said the stadium would be similar to new ballparks in Cleveland, Baltimore and Denver.

Asked what would happen if the Reds don’t get a new stadium, Schott replied: “There are a lot of places that would want the Cincinnati Reds.�

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Pitcher Kevin Gross, who has struggled with Texas since signing as a free agent, was assured by Manager Johnny Oates that he is still in the rotation. Gross, 33, is 1-4 with a 10.80 ERA.

“It could be that I’m not up to pitching up here anymore,� Gross told The Dallas Morning News. “I don’t know. I’m going to make that decision in the next 24 hours.�

Oates met with Gross Tuesday. “He didn’t mention anything to me about [retiring],� Oates said. “He’s still in the rotation.�

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Minnesota center fielder Alex Cole broke his right leg chasing a base hit in the eighth inning Tuesday. Milwaukee’s Fernando Vina hit a ball that landed about eight feet in front of Cole, whose right leg buckled as he stopped to take the ball on a bounce. . . . The Boston Red Sox signed right-handed pitcher Mike Maddux, who has played for five National League teams, to a one-year contract for the major league minimum of $109,000. Left-handed pitcher Vaughn Eshelman went on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his left shoulder.