Mariners Continue Housecleaning as Gorman Thomas Is Given Release

The Seattle Mariners released veteran slugger Gorman Thomas Wednesday because he wasn’t getting the job done as the club’s designated hitter, Manager Dick Williams said.

“I’m going to go with the guys who are going well,” said Williams, hired earlier this season to replace Chuck Cottier, who was fired. “Gorman is not one of them.”

Thomas is the third veteran released by the Mariners in the last two weeks. Outfielder Al Cowens was released June 12, and pitcher Milt Wilcox was waived two days later.

Team President Chuck Armstrong said Thomas’ release was necessary but it was not an easy move to make.

“We’re very disappointed we had to make that move,” Armstrong said, “but it was a move we just had to make to get more production. We were not getting the production from Gorman that we had hoped for.”

To fill Thomas’ place on the roster, the Mariners purchased the contract of outfielder Ricky Nelson from Calgary of the Pacific Coast League.

Thomas, 35, a veteran of 12 major league seasons, was batting .194 with 10 home runs and 26 runs batted in this season. He was the Mariner designated hitter the first 15 games of the season but had shared those duties with Ken Phelps since then. Thomas had one home run and four runs batted in this month.