Yankees Part Company with Weathers

In the first shake-up of the New York Yankee bullpen this season, David Weathers was cut loose Saturday and replaced by Jim Mecir.

Weathers, acquired from Florida in July for Mark Hutton, has been a favorite whipping boy of Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. New York designated the 27-year-old right-hander for assignment, meaning the team has 10 days to trade him, attempt to assign him outright to the minors or request unconditional release waivers.

“Actually, it’s not totally bad news,” said Weathers, who expects to catch on with another team.

Weathers was 0-1 with a 10.00 earned-run average in 10 appearances this season. In Friday night’s 9-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox, he lasted only one-third of an inning, giving up four runs and six hits.

While he had a 9.35 ERA in 11 appearances for the Yankees during the final two months of the 1996 season, he gave up just one run in 11 innings during the postseason, going 2-0.

Given the criticism from Steinbrenner, the Yankee front office felt cutting Weathers would be best for his pitching and state of mind.

“I didn’t think he would get it done here,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said. “There’s nothing wrong with him physically, but he has been this way since spring training.”

Weathers has a $435,000 salary, meaning it would cost a team about $360,000 to acquire him in a trade or via waivers.

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The Cleveland Indians recalled pitcher Bartolo Colon from triple-A Buffalo and started him Saturday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. He gave up five runs--only one earned--in four innings and did not get a decision in the Indians’ 9-8 loss.

Infielder Damian Jackson, recalled April 22 from Buffalo when Marquis Grissom was put on the disabled list, was sent down.