GaryMrMets
03-28-2003, 09:06 PM
Martin Released by Marlins Despite Strong Spring
Veteran Outfielder Catches on With Devil Rays
.c The Associated Press
JUPITER, Fla. (March 28) -- The Florida Marlins released 35-year-old outfielder Al Martin on Friday after he refused to sign a form that would have given the club advance permission to demote him to the minor leagues.
The move means Gerald Williams will be the team's fifth outfielder.
The left-handed hitting Martin signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays later in the day.
Martin, in camp on a minor league contract, hit .342 with four doubles, two home runs and nine RBI this spring. Williams, a right-hander with a little more speed, hit .285 with six RBI.
"Both of these guys had good camps,'' general manager Larry Beinfest said. "It was a difficult decision.''
Florida had wanted Martin to agree now that he would not refuse an outright assignment to the minor leagues during the first 45 days of the season. Without that agreement, if Martin had been added to the major league roster, his major league salary this year would have become guaranteed.
The Marlins also assigned left-hander Juan Alvarez to their minor league camp and filled the final bullpen spot with left-hander Tommy Phelps, who has bounced around the minor leagues since 1993.
Martin said he was told earlier this week that he made the team.
"They wanted me to sign a waiver giving them 45 days to be able to send me down if they wanted to,'' he said. "I just don't think I'm doing myself justice or my teammates justice if I agree to that. Basically, I felt like if you want me, you want me. If you don't, you don't. I don't have any hard feelings. The decision I made was right.''
Beinfest was surprised Martin refused to consent in advance to a minor league assignment.
"We asked Al to do nothing out of the ordinary,'' Beinfest said. "This was not going outside the scope of what has been done in the past.''
Last season, Martin spent spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals but sat out the year after surgery to repair a torn muscle in his left elbow. In his last full season, Martin hit .240 with seven home runs and 42 RBI with Seattle in 2001.
In a 10-year career with Pittsburgh, San Diego and Seattle, Martin has 129 home runs, 459 RBI and a .278 average.
Martin said he hoped to re-sign with another club but admitted that the timing might be tough because most clubs have made their final cuts.
"I don't want to retire, but when you make a decision like this -- especially now -- you realize that it's a tough time,'' he said. "Most teams are made. It could be career-threatening. I'll have to live with that one.''
03/28/03 18:28 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Veteran Outfielder Catches on With Devil Rays
.c The Associated Press
JUPITER, Fla. (March 28) -- The Florida Marlins released 35-year-old outfielder Al Martin on Friday after he refused to sign a form that would have given the club advance permission to demote him to the minor leagues.
The move means Gerald Williams will be the team's fifth outfielder.
The left-handed hitting Martin signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays later in the day.
Martin, in camp on a minor league contract, hit .342 with four doubles, two home runs and nine RBI this spring. Williams, a right-hander with a little more speed, hit .285 with six RBI.
"Both of these guys had good camps,'' general manager Larry Beinfest said. "It was a difficult decision.''
Florida had wanted Martin to agree now that he would not refuse an outright assignment to the minor leagues during the first 45 days of the season. Without that agreement, if Martin had been added to the major league roster, his major league salary this year would have become guaranteed.
The Marlins also assigned left-hander Juan Alvarez to their minor league camp and filled the final bullpen spot with left-hander Tommy Phelps, who has bounced around the minor leagues since 1993.
Martin said he was told earlier this week that he made the team.
"They wanted me to sign a waiver giving them 45 days to be able to send me down if they wanted to,'' he said. "I just don't think I'm doing myself justice or my teammates justice if I agree to that. Basically, I felt like if you want me, you want me. If you don't, you don't. I don't have any hard feelings. The decision I made was right.''
Beinfest was surprised Martin refused to consent in advance to a minor league assignment.
"We asked Al to do nothing out of the ordinary,'' Beinfest said. "This was not going outside the scope of what has been done in the past.''
Last season, Martin spent spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals but sat out the year after surgery to repair a torn muscle in his left elbow. In his last full season, Martin hit .240 with seven home runs and 42 RBI with Seattle in 2001.
In a 10-year career with Pittsburgh, San Diego and Seattle, Martin has 129 home runs, 459 RBI and a .278 average.
Martin said he hoped to re-sign with another club but admitted that the timing might be tough because most clubs have made their final cuts.
"I don't want to retire, but when you make a decision like this -- especially now -- you realize that it's a tough time,'' he said. "Most teams are made. It could be career-threatening. I'll have to live with that one.''
03/28/03 18:28 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.