| | KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- 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 along with reliever
Rafael Medina.
| |  | |
| Simon |
Simon, 24, hit .317 with five home runs and 25 RBI in 90 games
with the Braves last season. This spring, he batted .267 (8-for-30)
this with one homer and six RBI.
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 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 on Saturday, two days before the
season opener against Colorado.
| |
ALSO SEE
Indians latest team linked to Rocker trade rumors
Chipper to play through pain of sore right elbow
 |
