Mets release once-promising reliever Duaner Sanchez

Duaner Sanchez pitched 58 1/3 innings for the Mets last year, going 5-1 with a 4.32 ERA. Doug Benc/Getty Images

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- Reliever Duaner Sanchez was released Tuesday by the New York Mets after failing to regain form following two shoulder operations.

Sanchez will be paid 30 days' termination pay, $276,639, rather than his salary of $1,687,500.

He gave up two runs -- one earned -- and three hits in one inning Monday against Baltimore with a walk and two strikeouts, and the 29-year-old right-hander had been scheduled to pitch again Tuesday. Sanchez was 5-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 58 1-3 innings last season.

"We just looked at it -- his overall performance based upon last year to where he is now -- and we really didn't see the improvement we felt was needed to be effective in the major leagues," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "We sat down and talked about it yesterday, late after the game, and he showed some improvement, but the location was still not what we felt."

Players released after March 18 are owed 45 days' termination pay.

"In fairness to him and in fairness to us, we just felt if he is not going to be on the team, let's make a decision on this now, and at the same time give him the opportunity to be with another club," Minaya said.

Sanchez separated a shoulder in a taxi accident on July 30, 2006, and had season-ending surgery. He missed the 2007 season following a hairline fracture in the front of his shoulder during spring training and returned to the majors last April 15.

"He is recovering, and to his credit, he really was trying hard," Minaya said. "He can get outs, but at the same time the command is not where we want it. Velocity was getting better, so there were some positives, but at the end of the day, you have to make the call. We are getting to the time where the innings are going to get shorter, and if you know a guy is not going to be on the team, we want to make sure we give some guys a better opportunity and we get a better look at them."

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