Spring Training Blog
Check our daily spring training blog with updates on everything our team of writers and analysts are seeing and hearing at the ballpark, plus news tidbits from around the baseball world. Blog
"We looked at his overall performance based upon last year to where he is now and we didn't see the improvement that we felt was needed to be effective in the major leagues," general manager Omar Minaya told reporters Tuesday.
In what turned out to be his final performance as a Met, Sanchez gave up three hits and two runs -- one earned -- in one inning Monday against the Orioles.
"To his credit, he really was trying hard," Minaya told reporters. "But the command is not where we wanted it. It was getting better. There was some uptick, some positive signs there. But at the end of the day, you've got to make a call and the call was made today."
Because the Mets cut Sanchez before March 18, the team is responsible for just 16 percent of his $1.6875 million 2009 salary.
In 2008, Sanchez was 5-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 58 1/3 innings but never seemed to regain the velocity on his fastball after the accident.
Sanchez was 5-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 49 appearances for New York in 2006 and was the primary setup man for then-closer Billy Wagner before his right shoulder was separated in a taxi accident in Florida.
Sanchez's release could boost right-hander reliever Bobby Parnell's chances of making the team. Left-hander Ron Villone, who agreed to a minor league deal, and right-hander Brian Stokes also are in the mix for one of the team's final bullpen spots.
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