Marlins release Wayne

Justin Wayne went to spring training on the Florida Marlins' 40-man roster, was sent outright to Albuquerque of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on March 16, then was released Wednesday.

"When they took me off the 40-man roster and outrighted me that kind of gave me a hint that I was not in their plans," said Wayne from his Florida home.

The right-hander appeared in 26 games with eight starts in parts of three seasons with the Marlins. He had a 5-8 record with a 6.13 earned-run average.

This spring he pitched just one inning in two games for Florida. He gave up two hits, walked four and had an 18.00 ERA.

"Spring wasn't so good. I put too much pressure on myself. It took my mind away from the objective I was trying to accomplish," said Wayne, who admitted this is a tough time of the season to hook up with another team.

Wayne was the first-round pick (fifth overall) of the Montreal Expos in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft following an outstanding career at Stanford. He was part of a seven-player trade that sent him to the Marlins July 11, 2002.

The Punahou graduate made his major league debut Sept. 9, 2002 against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Wayne gave up seven hits and five runs in four innings and took the loss. He finished the season with a 2-3 record and a 5.32 ERA.

Last year Wayne was 3-3 with a 5.79 ERA in 19 games, primarily as a reliever, for the Marlins. He was on the disabled list in July with tendinitis in his right shoulder and spent most of the remainder of the season at Albuquerque (1-5, 6.58).

Victorino back with
Phillies system

Outfielder Shane Victorino cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where the Maui High graduate will likely be used at all three outfield spots.

Victorino was claimed in the Rule 5 Draft from the Dodgers but had a poor spring, batting .154 in 52 at-bats, and he was inconsistent on defense. He hit a home run Thursday, lifting the Phillies to a 9-9 tie with the Blue Jays.

"I put way too much pressure on myself instead of going out there and playing," Victorino told the Phillies' official Web site. "That's where I definitely went wrong."

After Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta declined the Phillies' offer to return him, Phillies GM Ed Wade told Victorino that he was welcome to play at Triple-A. Victorino could have become a free agent, but chose the Red Barons.

"We knew he could take his free agency in lieu of either Triple-A assignment, but we told him he had the opportunity to play here, and he took it," Wade told the Web site. "We like his tools, but he has to continue to play."