Damion Easley became the most expensive player cut loose in baseball history when the Detroit Tigers released him Friday with $14.3 million still owed on his contract.
The 33-year-old infielder is in the fourth season of a $28.9-million, five-year contract. The Tigers must pay him $6.5 million this year, $6.5 million in 2004 and a $1.3-million buyout of an $8-million team option for 2005.
The record for the most money owed to a released player was set last Saturday, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays cut Greg Vaughn, who is guaranteed $9.25 million this year.
Easley also is the first major leaguer released with more than one year left on his contract since the Angels cut pitcher Jim Abbott, who had two years and $5.6 million left on his deal.
"It's a very tough decision for everybody involved," Tiger President Dave Dombrowski said. "He's a quality individual. He's done a lot for the organization ... It's a lot of money."
Easley lost his starting job last Saturday when Manager Alan Trammell decided to use Ramon Santiago as his starting second baseman this season.
Detroit obtained Easley in a July 1997 trade with the Angels and he was an All-Star the next season.
Easley was the regular second baseman through 2001, but injuries limited him to 85 games last season when he batted .224 with eight homers and 30 runs batted in in 304 at-bats.
*
It didn't take Al Martin long to find work after being released by the Florida Marlins.
The Devil Rays signed the 35-year-old outfielder shortly after Florida let him go when he refused to sign a form giving the Marlins advance permission to demote him to the minor leagues.
Florida wanted Martin, in camp on a minor league contract, to agree that he would not refuse an assignment to the minors during the first 45 days of the season.
If Martin had been added to the major league roster without the agreement, his major league salary this season would have become guaranteed.
The Devil Rays also signed left-handed pitcher Mike Venafro and claimed outfielder George Lombard off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.
Martin, as did Venafro, agreed to a one-year contract. He hit .342 this spring for the Marlins with four doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs. He last played in the majors two years ago for Devil Ray Manager Lou Piniella in Seattle.
*
Right-hander Rudy Seanez agreed to a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.
