VIERA, Fla. (AP) - The Washington Nationals released disgruntled pitcher Odalis Perez on Monday, a day after he failed to show up at spring training by the mandatory reporting deadline.
Perez signed a minor league contract with Washington on Feb. 5 that would have paid him $850,000 if he made the team. In recent days, however, the left-hander said he wanted a better deal.The 31-year-old Perez hadn't taken phone calls from general manager Jim Bowden or manager Manny Acta in recent days. Perez let the 7 p.m. Sunday deadline pass without reporting.
"We left messages yesterday for his agent, we left messages for him, I left messages again this morning, and they made their point really clear," Bowden said. "We've got a lot of pitchers here in camp who are committed to helping us win, and we want players here who want to be here."
"It's disappointing because you'd at least like him to talk to us in person," Bowden said.
Perez was 7-12 with a 4.34 ERA in 30 starts for the Nationals last season. He is 73-82 with a 4.46 ERA is 10 seasons.
Perez also has played for the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Kansas City Royals.
Notes: First baseman Dmitri Young has a bruised left ring finger. X-rays showed the finger isn't broken, and the Nationals listed him as day to day.
Play FOX Fantasy Baseball today
