MONTREAL -- The Montreal Expos released pitcher Hideki Irabu on Thursday, the day after he finished a one-week suspension imposed while he was on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Ottawa.

	Hideki Irabu Starting pitcher Free agent Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L Sv K ERA 3 0 2 0 18 4.86

"It's a risk that we can't take," Expos general manager Jim Beattie said Thursday after making the announcement about the injury-plagued Japanese right-hander.

Team officials would only say that Irabu had "violated the terms of his contract" when the suspension without pay was announced on Aug. 29.

Japan's Kyodo News Service subsequently reported that Irabu had to be hospitalized one day before a scheduled rehab start after he went on a drinking binge while the Lynx were in Buffalo.

Irabu made just three starts for Montreal this season due to a variety of injuries. The Expos restructured his contract after acquiring him from the New York Yankees for three prospects on Dec. 23, 1999, signing him to a two-year deal with club options for 2002 and 2003.

"We won't spend millions without knowing he has a good chance to perform for us," Beattie said.

Irabu went 0-2 with a 4.86 ERA this year for Montreal. He had surgery on his right knee and right elbow last season, and was 2-7 with a 6.69 ERA overall in 14 starts with the Expos over both seasons.

"We're disappointed about the way things happened and it's time to move on," Beattie said. "If he gets healthy and demonstrates that he wants to pitch, he has the talent to do it in the major leagues. Not being healthy is tough and he hasn't been healthy very much. He's a talented guy and he can do things others can't."