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Decision time Roster roundup: Pirates release veteran LHP Schourek
Posted: Wednesday March 29, 2000 04:17 PM
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- When Pete Schourek walked into the Pittsburgh Pirates' spring training clubhouse Wednesday, he expected to learn he was their fifth starter. Instead, he found himself out of a job, at least temporarily -- and the Pirates found themselves out at least $1.8 million. Convinced that Schourek was no longer the pitcher who won 18 games for Cincinnati in 1995, the Pirates released Schourek, who is guaranteed a $2 million salary. Rookie left-hander Jimmy Anderson will be the fifth starter. Only the day earlier, Schourek seemed to have secured a spot in the rotation by limiting a Minnesota split squad to two runs in six innings, his best start this spring. "I'm confident I can pitch," said the 30-year-old Schourek, 4-7 with a 5.34 ERA last season. "They told me it was a numbers game. The $2 million apparently didn't mean anything." Owner Kevin McClatchy gave general manager Cam Bonifay permission to eat Schourek's contract if he and manager Gene Lamont felt the Pirates were better with Anderson in the rotation. Their spring numbers were nearly identical. Schourek was 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA and eight strikeouts in 20 innings and Anderson was 3-1 with a 5.17 ERA and nine strikeouts in 15 2-3 innings. "I'm not real worried about the baseball side of it," Schourek said. "I thought I threw well this spring and worked out some things I had problems with last season. I think I'll have a productive season for somebody." Anderson, 24, was 11-2 at Triple-A Nashville last season and didn't want to return to the minors. "I would have been disappointed,' said Anderson, who was Schourek's spring-training roommate. "I think I did all I could there. I thought I pitched well here and I'm glad to get the chance." The Pirates stretched out the competition between the two left-handers to buy time to work out a trade. But with Schourek's poor 1999 season, big salary and recent history of elbow problems, they couldn't find any takers. If Schourek is claimed on waivers, his new club must pay him only the $200,000 minimum salary, with the Pirates responsible for the remaining $1.8 million. "Pete Schourek will be in the big leagues for somebody," Bonifay said. "For $2 million, it wasn't even close. For $200,000, I'm sure a lot of clubs would take that opportunity." If Schourek prefers not to pitch for any team that claims him, he can refuse to report and would become a free agent in five days. Schourek is the third high-profile player to leave in two years without the Pirates getting much in return. They traded shortstop Tony Womack to Arizona and outfielder Jose Guillen to Tampa Bay last year for minor leaguers, and got only four victories from Schourek -- or $1 million per victory. Right-hander Jason Boyd, obtained from Arizona in the Womack trade, was claimed on waivers Wednesday by Milwaukee. Bonifay acknowledged he is taking a risk by releasing Schourek, who is 61-59 with a 4.55 ERA in nine seasons with the Mets, Reds, Astros, Red Sox and Pirates. "If he wins 20 games for somebody and Jimmy Anderson wins 10 games, people will say it was a wrong decision," Bonifay said. "When you make decisions that affect your job, you have to think about them. People who wanted me to make a hasty decision with this don't think about what I go through as a general manager." The Pirates made several moves to cut their roster to 28, reassigning right-hander Mike Garcia, first baseman Ivan Cruz and catcher Randy Knorr to their minor league camp. Cruz must clear waivers before he can return to the Pirates. Right-hander Rich Loiselle (elbow surgery) will start the season on the disabled list. Competing for the final two spots on the staff are left-handers Jason Christiansen, limited to one game this spring by back spasms, Chris Peters and Jeff Wallace.
Braves release Simon, MedinaKISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- First baseman Randall Simon, the apparent target of one of John Rocker's insults, was put on unconditional release waivers Wednesday by the Atlanta Braves. The Braves also released reliever Rafael Medina. Simon, 24, hit .317 with five home runs and 25 RBIs in 90 games with the Braves last season. This spring, he batted .267 (8-for-30) with one homer and six RBIs. During a magazine interview in December, Rocker referred to a teammate as a "fat monkey," a remark thought directed at Simon, who is from the Netherlands Antilles. Rocker originally was suspended for the first four weeks of the season after saying in the interview that he would never play for a New York team because he didn't want to ride a subway train "next to some queer with AIDS." He also mocked foreigners. An arbitrator cut the suspension to the first two weeks of the season. Medina, a 25-year-old free agent signed during the offseason, was 3-7 with a 5.96 ERA the last two seasons with Florida. He was 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA this spring in 10 2-3 innings, allowing four runs and 10 hits. Braves general manager John Schuerholz said he unsuccessfully tried to trade the players. Simon, signed for $222,500, gets $55,014 in termination pay, while Medina, signed for the minimum $200,000, gets $49,451. Wednesday was the last day to release a player with a non-guaranteed contract without having to pay his entire salary. Atlanta has 36 players still in camp. Manager Bobby Cox said he will probably make the final cuts Saturday, two days before the season opener against Colorado.
Devil Rays release Burkett, Ogea; reassign HollinsST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Pitchers John Burkett and Chad Ogea, unable to win spots in the starting rotation, were released Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who also reassigned infielder Dave Hollins to their minor league camp. Burkett, a 35-year-old right-hander, is a former 20-game winner for the San Francisco Giants who spent parts of the last four seasons with the Texas Rangers. He was 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA this spring, allowing 12 runs and 25 hits in 17 innings. Ogea, 29, made a career-high 28 starts for the Philadelphia Phillies last season, going 6-12 with a 5.63 ERA. He gave up 12 runs and 17 hits in 14 1-3 innings this spring, going 1-1 with a 6.91 ERA. A .260 career hitter who's also played with Philadelphia, Boston, Minnesota, Seattle, Anaheim and Toronto, Hollins was hitting .361 with one homer and six RBIs in 36 at bats this spring. The Devil Rays also optioned outfielder Randy Winn to Triple-A Durham and released catcher Mike Figga. Infielder Rafael Bournigal, released last week by the New York Yankees, was signed to a Triple-A contract and will report to major league camp. The moves left the Devil Rays with 33 players in camp.
Angels acquire Clemente; release GreeneTUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Seeking roster flexibility, the Colorado Rockies traded outfielder Edgard Clemente to the Anaheim Angels on Wednesday for two minor league prospects. Clemente, the 24-year-old nephew of Hall of Fame outfielder Roberto Clemente, was sent to Anaheim for outfielder Norm Hutchins and catcher Jason Dewey. Clemente had been fighting for a roster spot as a reserve outfielder for Colorado, but will get an immediate chance to play for the Angels, who traded center fielder Jim Edmonds to the St. Louis Cardinals last week. At the same time, the Angels released catcher Todd Greene, who hit .243 and hit 14 home runs in 97 games with Anaheim last season. The Angels also optioned left-handed reliever Mike Holtz to Triple-A Edmonton and placed left-handed reliever Jarrod Washburn on the 15-day disabled list. The trade benefits the Rockies because they would have had to place Clemente on waivers if he was cut from their roster. Any other team could have claimed him within two days. Clemente bounced between the majors and Triple-A Colorado Springs last year but spent the final two months of the season with the Rockies. He hit .253 with eight homers and 25 RBIs while playing primarily in center field. Hutchins, 24, hit .250 with seven homers, 51 RBIs and 25 stolen bases at Triple-A Edmonton last year. He was a second-round draft pick by the Angels in 1994. Dewey, 22, is a converted first baseman who is still trying to adjust defensively behind the plate. He hit struggled in his first year of Double-A last year but hit .322 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs at Class A Lake Elsinore.
Dodgers send Gagne to AlbuquerqueVERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Right-hander Eric Gagne, expected to be a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting rotation entering spring training, was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Gagne, 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA in five starts for the Dodgers late last season, was ineffective in four exhibition games this month, going 0-2 with an ERA of 15.63. Staff ace Kevin Brown will pitch the season opener at Montreal on Monday night. Brown will be followed in the rotation by Chan Ho Park, Orel Hershiser, Carlos Perez and Darren Dreifort. The Dodgers also optioned right-hander Mike Judd and catcher Paul LoDuca to Albuquerque, leaving them with 29 players in camp including two non-roster invitees. It became apparent Tuesday that 35-year-old Chad Kreuter would be the backup catcher to Todd Hundley when the Dodgers purchased his contract from Albuquerque. Kreuter signed a minor league contract Jan. 20. To make room on their roster for Kreuter, the Dodgers placed right-hander Kris Foster on the 60-day disabled list. Foster had surgery on his pitching shoulder March 15.
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