White Sox Let Fisk, 43, Become Free Agent

The Chicago White Sox decided Saturday to let Carlton Fisk become a free agent and try to re-sign him to a new contract.

Fisk, 43, had an option for 1992 at $2.28 million, but the White Sox said they would not exercise it.

In other moves, the White Sox exercised an $800,000 option on pitcher Charlie Hough, 43, and St. Louis exercised its $2-million option on shortstop Ozzie Smith.

Minnesota bought out catcher Junior Ortiz for $50,000, rather than paying a $520,000 option price.

Also, the Major League Baseball Players Assn. and management’s Player Relations Committee agreed on which 17% of 2-to-3-year players would be eligible for salary arbitration. They include Junior Felix of the Angels.