W. Cordero on his way out

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The Washington Nationals designated veteran first baseman Wil Cordero for assignment and claimed outfielder Kenny Kelly off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds yesterday.

Meanwhile, Barry Larkin, a special assistant to general manager Jim Bowden, said on Sporting News Radio he was considering ending his retirement to play shortstop for the rest of the season.

The Cordero move was no surprise considering he was 0-for-14 as a pinch hitter and 0-for-18 with runners in scoring position this season. Cordero, 33, underwent knee surgery after the Nationals' third game and missed 48 games.

Cordero, who batted .118 overall (6-for-51), would not use his knee problem as an excuse.

"The bottom line is that I'm hitting one-something," he said. "It has nothing to do with my knee. It had something to do with my bat."

The Nationals' pickup of Kelly was a mild surprise because they are loaded with outfielders. The 6-foot-2 Kelly is better known for football; he was the University of Miami's starting quarterback in 1999 and led the Big East in passing yards a game (212.6).

Kelly, 26, is the Nationals' sixth outfielder and adds speed to the club. Asked what he knew about him, Nationals manager Frank Robinson replied, "Heck of a quarterback."

Kelly appeared in seven games with the Reds and was 3-for-9 with two RBI. Kelly opened the season at Class AAA Louisville of the International league and batted .326 with nine doubles, four triples, three home runs, 17 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 22 attempts. He was the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' second-round pick in the 1997 draft.

The Nationals outrighted left-handed reliever Joe Horgan and right-handed reliever Jacobo Sequea to Class AAA New Orleans and Class AA Harrisburg, respectively, to create room on their 40-man roster.

Prospective addition Larkin, a 12-time All-Star during 19 seasons with Cincinnati, is a favorite of Bowden, a former GM of the Reds.