Orioles Release Jay Gibbons
He played 779 games in an Orioles uniform and was named team MVP in 2003. But injuries, a poor batting average and the Birds' youth movement caught up to Jay Gibbons, who was released by the team on Sunday.
The Orioles will owe Gibbons the 11.9 million he was due in salary, thru the 2009 season.
"For Jay to be productive he was going to need a lot of at bats and that just wasn't going to happen here," O's president Andy MacPhail said.
"I put a value on flexibility of the roster," MacPhail said. "This is never a fun day, it was a difficult decision but it was what we had to do."
MacPhail said when he told Gibbons this morning, Gibbons said, "I agree completely."
The Birds picked up Gibbons in the December, 2000, Rule 5 draft. In his seven O's seasons he batted .260 with 121 homers and 405 RBI. His best year was 2003 when he hit .277--23--100. Last season he batted just .230 in 84 games before undergoing shoulder surgery August 14. Four times in his seven O's seasons, injuries kept him from playing 100 games.
MacPhail said "I wrestled with this decision for a long time, but it was the right thing to do." He said when he discussed Gibbons recently with owner Peter Angelos, Angelos told him to "do what you need to do."
This move means utility player Scott Moore makes the opening-day roster as the 25th player. The 24-year-old Moore was acquired in the trade last August that sent Steve Trachsel to the Cubs.
Moore was a first-round draft pick (8th overall) of the Tigers in 2002. He hit 22 homers in AA ball in 2006 and 19 at AAA last year.
He played well this spring for the O's and said he had no idea he had the team made until he walked into Dave Trembley's office earlier today.
Thanks for the memories! When healthy, he was a good hitter and contributed some nice highlights in some otherwise disappointing seasons. Problem is, he was seldom healthy. I remember many of us were excited about his potential seven years ago. Too bad he fell short of it.
Best of luck! Hope he finds another team and can jump start his career.
So sad, too bad, I'm glad......should have been done a long time ago.
Hopefully Jay will be able to join a club where he can make a fresh start! Go O's!