Rick Ankiel is ticketed for the minors, Paul Byrd is headed to the disabled list and the Detroit Tigers cut loose costly Damion Easley.
Easley became the most expensive player cut in baseball history on Friday when the Tigers released him with US$14.3 million still owed on his contract.
The 33-year-old second baseman is in the fourth season of a US$29.9 million, five-year deal. Detroit must pay him US$6.5 million this year, US$6.5 million next year and a US$1.3 million buyout of an US$8 million team option for 2005.
``It's a very tough decision for everybody involved,'' Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said. ``He's a quality individual. He's done a lot for the organization. It's a lot of money.''
Easley was an All-Star in 1998, when he had 27 homers and 100 RBIs. But his production tailed off the last three years and he lost his starting job this spring to youngster Ramon Santiago.
``It's definitely not a proud day, I can say that,'' Easley said. ``It's somewhat of a relief to know what my fate was. I knew it wouldn't be able to work out. I knew that 100 percent they were going to let me go.''
Ankiel, still struggling with his control, was optioned to Double-A Tennessee by the St. Louis Cardinals. The 23-year-old left-hander, an 11-game winner as a rookie starter in 2000, was expected to have a spot in the St. Louis bullpen this season. He's trying to rebound from the wildness and elbow injury that derailed his promising career the past two years.
Ankiel said that he was not surprised by the move.
``Not really,'' he said. ``I'm just happy to be playing. I'll just go there and get some work in.''
Ankiel will continue to pitch in relief in the Southern League.
``We want him to continue to build on what he has done here,'' St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said.
``He's made so much progress this spring,'' he said. ``He is so close to nailing it, so we looked around for the best opportunity for him to continue to make progress.''
The Atlanta Braves placed Byrd on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right elbow, retroactive to March 21.
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