Rangers Decide to Release Rocker

The Texas Rangers have decided they no longer require the services of John Rocker. They put the one-time star closer on waivers Thursday for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release.

Rocker is 13-22 with 88 saves in 278 major league appearances with Atlanta, Cleveland and Texas.

In 1999, his first full major league season, he had 38 saves as Atlanta went to the World Series. He had 24 saves for the Braves in 2000.

The Braves traded him to Cleveland during the 2001 season, and he went 3-7 with four saves and a 5.45 earned-run average.

After John Hart quit as Cleveland’s general manager and became the Rangers’ GM, he acquired the left-hander in a trade last Dec. 18. Rocker was 2-3 with a 6.66 ERA and one save in 30 appearances with the Rangers this season.

*

Pitcher Grant Roberts of the New York Mets met with prosecutors investigating his accusation that a woman used a picture of him smoking marijuana in an extortion attempt. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said that prosecutors met with Roberts for about three hours in his agent’s office.

*

Tom Gamboa, the Kansas City Royals’ coach attacked by two men near first base during the ninth inning of a Sept. 19 game in Chicago, will be shifted to the bullpen next season. Gamboa will be replaced in the first-base coaching box by Luis Silverio, a scouting coordinator with the Royals.