Fermin Calls Mariners ‘Disrespectful’

Felix Fermin said the Seattle Mariners had been “disrespectful and abusive” and that was why he asked the team for his unconditional release.

“In Seattle, I was player number 26,” Fermin said, referring to the 25-man roster. “Nobody counted me for anything, let alone talked to me about anything. If they can’t give me any playing time, then they should let me go and that’s what I was looking for.”

Fermin, upset that Alex Rodriguez was starting, was released last Saturday. The Mariners will pay the remainder of his $900,000 salary.

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Jack Morris, who led the Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers to World Series championships, is returning to baseball with the independent league St. Paul Saints. Morris, 40, has been out of baseball since he was released by Cleveland in 1994.

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New York Yankee second baseman Pat Kelly had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, and doctors said they found a minimal amount of scar tissue. He is expected to rejoin the Yankees sometime this season. . . . Philadelphia Phillie right-hander Curt Schilling, who had surgery on his right shoulder last Aug. 23, threw in the bullpen Friday for 20 minutes without any problems. . . . The Phillies said pitching coach Johnny Podres would take a leave of absence through May 5, but said it was unrelated to his heart surgery last fall. . . . Florida Marlin center fielder Devon White, batting only .214, will be sidelined five to seven days after re-injuring his right hamstring.