Devil Rays Cut Vaughn

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays released Greg Vaughn on Saturday, giving up on their highest-paid player.

The Devil Rays will ask waivers Monday on Vaughn for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release.

If he isn’t claimed by Wednesday, the Devil Rays must pay his guaranteed $9.25-million salary this season.

Vaughn, 37, was in the final season of a $34-million, four-year contract. The Devil Rays would be responsible for paying $5 million of the remaining salary this season, with the rest deferred at 3% interest.

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Montreal ace Javier Vazquez could be sidelined for the Expos’ season opener because of a strained calf muscle.

Vazquez was hurt in Friday’s start against Florida. The Expos estimated he will be sidelined from five to 14 days. Montreal already figured to start the season without No. 2 starter Orlando Hernandez, who has tendinitis in his right rotator cuff.

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David Wells declined to take part in a photo shoot in Tampa, Fla., for Sports Illustrated that featured the New York Yankees’ starting pitchers -- Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Jeff Weaver and Jose Contreras -- and owner George Steinbrenner.

Wells was asked through the team’s media relations department to be in the photo, which is intended for the cover of the magazine’s next edition.

Clemens, meanwhile, was named by Manager Joe Torre to start the season opener at Toronto on March 31.

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Baltimore Oriole Manager Mike Hargrove is putting Jason Johnson in the starting rotation, leaving Rick Helling and Pat Hentgen to compete for the final slot.

Johnson joins opening-day starter Rodrigo Lopez, Omar Daal and Sidney Ponson in the five-man rotation.