D-Rays Show Gooden The Door

May 25, 2000 / 11:18 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Dwight Gooden's return home was a short one.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays released Gooden and shortstop Kevin Stocker Thursday and recalled infielder Felix Martinez and selected pitcher Doug Creek from Triple-A Durham.

"In a situation like this, you build from the situations in the past," Gooden said. "I've been in worst before. It's just a bump in the road."

Gooden, 35, indicated he is not yet ready to retire, saying the "the fire still burns."

Tampa Bay general manager Chuck LaMar asked Gooden to retire before releasing him.

"He's a warrior and has been through a lot of ups and downs," LaMar said. "I felt like that his playing days were coming to an end and I wanted him to go out the right way. I thought it was time to make a move with Dwight and I gave him that opportunity to retire."

LaMar has offered Gooden a roving minor league pitching position within the Devil Rays' organization.

"He gave us everything he had," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said. "I think we're going to try and go younger."

Gooden was acquired from the Houston Astros on April 13 for cash considerations, giving the former Cy Young Award winner an opportunity to pitch at home.

The St. Petersburg resident went 2-3 with 6.63 ERA in eight starts for the Devil Rays. He won his first two decisions, then went 0-3 and allowed 10 homers, 25 runs and 34 hits in 21 2/3 innings.

"He was struggling ... it always tough to see a pitcher of his caliber get released," Tampa Bay pitching coach Bill Fischer said. "He made a lot good pitches and a lot of bad. He would run out of gas a little sooner than he normally would."

Gooden made one start for the Astros this season and was not involved in the decision.

Gooden is 190-110 in a major league career that began in 1984 with the New York Mets. He also pitched for the Yankees and Cleveland.

"It was a thrill in my career to catch a guy like Doc," Tampa Bay catcher John Flaherty said. "His best days are probably behind him, but the way we went about his business, I just feel honored to say that I was able to work with him. It's a sad day."

A four-time All-Star, Gooden was NL Rookie of the Year in 1984, won the NL Cy Young Award at age 20 the following year and pitched a no-hitter for the Yankees gainst Seattle on May 14, 1996.

Stocker has committed 11 errors in 40 games this season, including two in the Devil Rays' 9-2 loss to Oakland on Wednesday night.

"It's no secret I'm here for my defense," Stocker said. "I've made 11 errors in six weeks. There's something wrong. I have to get my head straight. I feel bad I didn't get the job done."

Stocker was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Bobby Abreu on Nov. 18, 1997.

LaMar did not rule out additional moves should the Devil Rays, who started Thursday with a major league-worst record of 15-29, continue struggling.

"If there is a message, then so be it," LaMar said. "Are there going to be more moves? The players will dictate that. If we start lacking in effort, if we start lacking in competitiveness on nightly basis, then this will not be the last move."

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