After Acquiring Hollins, Blue Jays Release Fielder

Once again, Cecil Fielder is out of a job.

Fielder was released by the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, a month after the 35-year-old designated hitter agreed to a minor league contract.

Fielder, cut by the Angels and Cleveland in the second half of the 1998 season, was let go by Toronto a day after it traded for the Angels’ Dave Hollins.

“I guess it had to do with the Hollins trade,” Fielder said as he packed his gear in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse. “I just don’t understand the change of heart by the team. I’m a little disappointed, I thought everything was set, but I will be OK. Life goes on.”

Fielder led the Blue Jays with three home runs this spring. He hit .264 (14 for 53) with 11 runs batted in in 17 exhibition games.

Fielder split last season between the Angels and Indians, hitting a combined .233 with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs in 117 games.

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New York Met pitcher Paul Wilson had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow, an operation that is expected to sideline him for 9-12 months. Wilson, 25, the top pick in the 1994 draft, found out earlier this month that he had torn a ligament. Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery in Birmingham, Ala.

Wilson has not pitched in the major leagues since 1996. Following surgery on his right shoulder, he wasn’t able to play in 1997.

An elbow injury last year limited him to 57 innings in the minors last year. He was supposed to start this season at triple-A Norfolk.

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Arizona Diamondback left-hander Randy Johnson pitched six no-hit innings in a minor league game and said he felt no hint of the strained right groin that had caused him to miss his previous start.

“I felt good,” he said. “I’m ready to go.”

The 6-foot-10 Johnson had his fastball clocked at 97 mph and his slider at 83 to 86 mph, an indication that despite the minor injury that altered his spring training timetable, he’s in shape for Monday’s opening day showdown against Kevin Brown at Dodger Stadium.

“Whether it’s enough to beat the Dodgers, I won’t know until I get over there,” Johnson said, “but I feel confident enough that I’m leaving spring training with the arm strength that I wanted and the mentality that I wanted.”

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Roger Clemens, the New York Yankees’ opening day starter, pitched five scoreless innings in a triple-A game in Clearwater, Fla.

“There won’t be nerves . . . I’ll have excitement,” Clemens said about his start Monday at Oakland. “I’ll have to control my excitement early.

“I’m well aware that it’s a marathon. I can’t do it all in one, two, three innings. I’ll be telling myself those things, but I’ll probably let a couple go.”

Pitching for Columbus against Scranton, the Philadelphia Phillies’ top farm club, Clemens gave up one scratch hit, struck out five and walked two. The right-hander threw 44 of 71 pitches for strikes.

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The San Diego City Council unanimously approved plans to move ahead with a $411 million downtown ballpark and redevelopment project for the Padres, ending a week of intense negotiations between the ballclub and city agencies.

The Padres, who are investing $115 million into the project, had to prove to the council that it had generated enough business in hotel, commercial and retail space near the proposed ballpark by today’s deadline to get the approval. Voters approved the plan in November.

The city has pledged to underwrite $225 million in bonds for the 42,000-seat ballpark to be repaid largely with room taxes generated by new hotels in the area.

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Former major league umpire Steve Palermo has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Olathe, Kan.

Palermo’s career was ended in 1991 when he was shot and partially paralyzed while helping two women who were being attacked in Texas.

The Overland Park resident was stopped about 2 a.m. Tuesday by a Johnson County sheriff’s deputy in De Soto.

According to Johnson County District Court records, Palermo was charged Tuesday with speeding, refusing to submit to a breath test and driving under the influence.

He was released from the county jail after posting a $300 bond. An April 14 court date is scheduled.

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Outfielder Danny Bautista and second baseman Tony Graffanino were put on unconditional release waivers by the Atlanta Braves. Bautista hit .327 in 19 games this spring with seven RBIs. Bautista, with the Braves since 1996, hit .250 last season with the Braves with three home runs and 17 RBIs.

Graffanino hit .106 in 21 spring games. He also has been with the Braves since 1996. Graffanino hit .211 last season with Atlanta with five homers and 22 RBIs.