Indians Release Cecil Fielder

Cecil Fielder is out of a job again after being released Friday by the Cleveland Indians.

The designated hitter-first baseman was designated for assignment by the Anaheim Angels on Aug. 5 and signed with Cleveland nine days later for the rest of the season, shortly after Indians All-Star first baseman Jim Thome suffered a broken hand.

Fielder never panned out in Cleveland, batting just .143 (5-for-35) without an RBI. He was relegated to a reserve role with the emergence of rookie first baseman Richie Sexson and released due to Thome's recent return.

Fielder hit .241 with 17 homers and 68 RBI in his first and only season with the Angels after signing a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the team in December. The hefty slugger had a productive June, batting .295 (28-for-95) with seven homers and 29 RBI in 26 games, but he hit just .211 (22-for-104) in 26 games prior to his designation.

A three-time All-Star and 12-year veteran, Fielder owns a .255 lifetime average with 319 homers and 1,008 RBI in 1,470 games. He has played for five major-league teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays (1985-1988), Detroit Tigers (1990-1996) and New York Yankees (1996-1997).

Fielder, who turns 35 on Monday, reached stardom in Detroit, hitting .277 with 51 home runs and 132 RBI in 1990 and becoming the 11th player in major-league history to hit 50 homers in a season.

Acquired by the Yankees in the summer of 1996, Fielder played a key role in their drive to a World Series title, batting .391 in the Fall Classic. He combined to hit 39 home runs that season, his highest total since tying for the American League lead with 44 in 1991.

Fielder hit just 31 homers in his first four seasons with Toronto, spanning 220 games. After a year in Japan, he signed with the Tigers and became one of baseball's premier sluggers. He led the AL in RBI in 1990 (132), 1991 (133) and 1992 (124).

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