Pirates Terminate Mondesi’s Deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally ran out of patience with outfielder Raul Mondesi, terminating his contract Wednesday when he didn’t show up for the start of a three-game series against San Diego.

The Pirates cited breach of contract in ending all dealings with Mondesi, who was hitting .283 with two homers and 14 runs batted in when he left them May 7 to return to his native Dominican Republic and fight a lawsuit.

Mondesi was not disappointed by the decision.

“I feel relieved now,” Mondesi told Associated Press. “I want the best for the Pirates, and considering my situation in the Dominican Republic I wasn’t going to be much help to them at this moment. I have an issue to resolve and the Pirates have a schedule to complete. I understand that they’ve taken this measure.”

Mondesi was paid $192,000 of his guaranteed $1.75-million contract before leaving, but the Pirates are not required to pay any more money. He was due a $600,000 buyout if the team did not pick up his $8-million option for 2005.

Normally, clubs are responsible for the remainder of a player’s contract if they release him, but Mondesi voluntarily left the Pirates.

Once the Pirates determined Mondesi wasn’t coming back, they purchased the contract of outfielder Ruben Mateo from triple-A Nashville.

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Barry Bonds’ back started hurting again and the San Francisco Giant star was out of the lineup for Wednesday night’s game with the Chicago Cubs.

“We’re not making plans for him to play [today],” Giant Manager Felipe Alou said before the game. The Cubs and Giants end their series today. Asked if Bonds might headed to the disabled list, Alou said: “I’m afraid, yeah, of course. My feeling is 50-50.”

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Chicago Cub outfielder Sammy Sosa was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained ligament in his lower back, an ailment that was brought on by two violent sneezes Sunday in San Diego.

The Cubs recalled outfielder Jason Dubois from triple-A Iowa.

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Fred McGriff has decided to join triple-A Durham, and the sagging Tampa Bay Devil Rays expect to promote him to the majors by the end of the month. McGriff is nine home runs short of 500.