Lidle, who was a pitcher for the New York Yankees, died in the crash of his small plane Oct. 11 and was covered by the benefit plan of Major League Baseball and its players' association, which had a $450,000 life-insurance benefit and an accidental-death benefit of $1.05 million. However, the plan - which applies to all players with major-league contracts - contains an exclusion for "any incident related to travel in an aircraft ... while acting in any capacity other than as a passenger."

New York-based MetLife paid Melanie Lidle $450,000, but "has refused to pay the entirety of the policy" despite demands, according to the lawsuit. In the complaint, attorneys for Melanie Lidle said they expect MetLife to try to say that Lidle's death occurred while he was acting as the pilot, a crew member or in another capacity but not as a passenger.

Melanie Lidle is entitled to the $1.05 million because the insurer can't prove that Cory Lidle was piloting the single-engine plane that crashed into a Manhattan high-rise, said her attorney, Stacy King. A status conference hearing is scheduled July 31. A MetLife spokesman said that the company does not comment on ongoing litigation.

• Freddy Sanchez, frustrated with a slow-to-heal knee injury as opening day approaches, sought a second opinion yesterday that confirmed the Pittsburgh Pirates' evaluation of a sprained right-knee ligament.

Sanchez, the Pirates' second baseman and reigning NL batting champion, was hurt turning a double play March 6. Still unable to run the bases or make sharp cuts, he flew to Birmingham, Ala., yesterday to be evaluated and undergo a second MRI test by James Andrews, an orthopedic surgeon best known for performing ligament-replacement surgery on pitchers' injured elbows.

Andrews found no tears or other previously unseen problems in Sanchez's knee. Sanchez will resume his conditioning program today. Unless there is significant improvement in the next several days, Sanchez is expected to start the season on the 15-day disabled list.

• Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees threw 25 pitches yesterday in his first bullpen session since he was sidelined by back spasms. Manager Joe Torre said he was pleased with the workout but didn't rule out the possibility that Pettitte might miss his first turn during the regular season.

"If it's the second round, so be it," Torre said. "Remember, it's 162 games, and the long haul is what we're concerned about. So whenever we're comfortable that he's ready to take the ball and go out there, that's when it will be."

Clark, a 33-year-old right-handed hitter, has a .278 career batting average and .986 fielding percentage over seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and the Brewers. He hit .263 last year with four home runs and 29 RBIs in 138 games.

Dessens, a 36-year-old right-hander, has a 46-59 record and 4.41 ERA in 10 seasons with Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Arizona, Los Angeles and Kansas City.

• Right-hander Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs had stiffness in his right shoulder yesterday, a day after an ineffective relief outing. Wood was scheduled to be evaluated by the team's medical staff.

Wood, trying to stay off the disabled list and make the opening-day roster as a reliever, gave up a two-run homer to the Los Angeles Angels' Kendry Morales on Sunday. He yielded three runs and three hits in one inning.

Wood is coming back this season from a partially torn rotator cuff - he chose not to have surgery but to rehab the injury. He wasn't available for comment.

• Reliever Duaner Sanchez of the New York Mets has a broken bone in his pitching shoulder and is expected to be sidelined until at least midseason.

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