Infielder Damion Easley was released Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after batting just .187 with a homer and seven RBI in 36 games.

Easley, 33, had signed with Tampa Bay on April 2 after being released by Detroit on March 28. Easley was most expensive player cut loose in baseball history when the Tigers let him go. He still had $14.3 million left on his contract.

Tampa Bay called up infielder Jason Smith from Triple-A Durham where he was batting .315 with nine homers and 38 RBIs in 54 games. Smith is the 40th player to be used by the Devil Rays this season.