Blue Jays release slumping Thomas

Slumping designated hitter Frank Thomas was released Sunday by the Toronto Blue Jays, who cut the 19-year veteran one day after he became angry for being taken out of the lineup.

General Manager J.P. Ricciardi said he and Thomas came to “a mutual agreement” after meeting in the clubhouse early Sunday.

The move leaves the Blue Jays on the hook for $7,081,967, the remainder of his $8-million salary this year in the $18.12-million, two-year contract the 39-year-old Thomas signed in November 2006.

Thomas was hitless in his last 13 at-bats and had gone four for 35 since homering in three straight games. Known as a slow starter, he batted .167 with three homers for Toronto this year.

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Jimmy Rollins the MVP has two more capital letters next to his name: DL.

Rollins, the Philadelphia Phillies shortstop, was put on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his eight-year career because of a sprained left ankle, nearly two weeks after last year’s National League most valuable player was hurt running the bases against the New York Mets.

Rollins is batting .308 with two home runs.

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Former major leaguer John Marzano died Saturday after falling down a flight of stairs at his home in Philadelphia. He was 45.

The cause of his death was not immediately clear, police said.

Marzano was from Philadelphia and had been working for Major League Baseball’s website, where he co-hosted a show on weekday mornings.

Marzano earned a spot as a catcher on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. He played 10 seasons in the majors for the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners before retiring in 1998.