Angels to Place Parrish on Release Waivers : Baseball: After 36-year-old catcher’s second stint on disabled list, club buys out his $2.25-million contract.

Lance Parrish postponed the inevitable once, but a torn thumbnail kept him from doing it twice.

Parrish, who returned as the Angels’ starting catcher this season only because John Orton was sidelined by a spring-training shoulder injury, lost his job Sunday when the Angels announced they will activate him off the disabled list Tuesday and place him on release waivers. They must pay the remainder of Parrish’s 1992 salary--$2.25 million.

Parrish, who turned 36 last Monday, can be claimed within 72 hours of being placed on waivers. If he is not claimed during that period, he can sign with another team.

In 24 games this season, he hit .229 with four home runs and 11 RBIs. With 290 homers as a catcher, he ranks fifth in major league history behind Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra and Gary Carter. Overall, he has hit 308 home runs and collected 1,009 RBIs, with a .254 batting average.

“Based on the comments made in spring training and during the winter time, it was pretty obvious they wanted John Orton to fit into the program and were hoping he would come around,” said Parrish, who spent 24 days on the DL in May because of bone spurs in his right elbow and returned to the DL after a Ricky Bones pitch tore the nail off his right thumb June 7 at Milwaukee.

“I don’t think, in my career, I’ve had two injuries like I’ve had this season,” he added. “I was hoping to show what I still had, but those injuries kind of got in the way. I’ve got to rebound from where I am right now and be productive the rest of the way.”

He remains confident in his fitness and his ability.

“The elbow’s been pretty solid for the most part,” said Parrish, who hit .238 and .268 in his first two seasons after being acquired from the Phillies but slumped to .216 last season, although he hit 19 home runs and drove in 51 runs. “I’ve been throwing and I haven’t had any problems with it. I try to keep a close check on it. . . . I think I have several years left. I try to put a gauge on myself and I still feel I move well behind the plate, that I throw the ball well and that I can still be productive. I still think the 20 home runs a year I averaged here are enough for somebody to take a chance on me.

“I realize this organization is going in a different direction. I have no animosity toward this organization and I wish nothing but the best for John Orton. I hope he has a great career here.”

Orton has long been regarded as the Angels’ catcher of the future, but with reservations about his offensive skills. His batting average slipped to .182 after his 0-for-3 performance Sunday in the Angels’ 4-2 victory over Oakland at Anaheim Stadium, not much below the .193 average he compiled in three previous stints with the Angels.

“As far as the defensive part of his game, there’s no doubt in my mind he’s ready,” said interim Manager John Wathan, a catcher during his playing days with the Royals. “We’ll see more (of his hitting prowess) the rest of this year and obviously, if there needs to be more help, there will be. What I like is his calling the game. And if he does the job he’s doing right now, we don’t need a heck of a lot from him offensively.”

Wathan said delivering the news to Parrish was difficult. “It’s tough for me to tell a player who’s done what he’s done what the situation is, but he handled it as well as any player I’ve ever seen,” Wathan said. “He’s really a credit to the game. I think he’ll continue to play somewhere.”

While happy to inherit Parrish’s job, Orton was sad to witness the exit of one of his role models.

“Growing up, he and (Bob) Boone and Fisk, those were my three main guys,” Orton said. “When he came over from Philadelphia, I knew it was his job. I tried to learn all I could from him. He’s always been helpful. He’s a good guy from way down deep.”

Parrish thinks he’s still a good catcher, too. He’s already begun to assess which teams might need him, mentioning the Padres and Texas Rangers as possibilities because of injuries to Benito Santiago and Ivan Rodriguez, respectively.

“I wouldn’t mind staying in the AL, but I’ve got to pretty much do whatever I can do with whatever’s available,” said Parrish, who said he learned of his release Saturday but didn’t want to detract from his teammates’ happiness over their 10-0 rout of the A’s.

“In my heart, I believe I can still play. It’s no secret and I let them (Angel executives) know I was hoping to play here and finish my career here. But I just didn’t fit into their plans for the future. I know they’re very high on John Orton but that doesn’t take away from what I feel about myself . . .

“I’d like to thank Gene and Jackie Autry for letting me come here and play. It was always a dream of mine to play in Southern California and I appreciate having gotten the chance. It’s been fun. I’ll miss everybody. I really enjoyed playing with this group of guys and I wish them nothing but the best.”

Times staff writer Robyn Norwood contributed to this story.