Baseball Notes: Killebrew is battling cancer of esophagus

Hall of Fame slugger Harmon Killebrew has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and said he expects to make a full recovery from the "very serious" condition.

"With my wife, Nita, by my side, I have begun preparing for what is perhaps the most difficult battle of my life," Killebrew, 74, said in a statement released through the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.

Killebrew hit 573 home runs and made 11 All-Star appearances during his 22-year career, spent mostly with the Washington Senators and Twins. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

Killebrew lives in the Phoenix area and said he is receiving treatment at the nearby Mayo Clinic.

Elsewhere. Former major-league manager Steve Boros, 74, died Wednesday, the Detroit Tigers said. No details of his death were available. Boros managed the Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres and also coached and scouted for other clubs. He made his big-league debut in 1957 with Detroit and hit three home runs in a 1962 game for the Tigers. . . . Seattle closer David Aardsma will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, and the team expects him to be ready for the start of the regular season.