Mariners cut first baseman Sexson

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Seattle Mariners out-of-form slugger Richie Sexson was released by the club on Thursday, despite having little more than $7 million still owed him on his four-year, $64 million deal.

Sexson, who struggled last season in hitting a dismal .205 with 21 home runs and 63 RBIs, has suffered another disappointing campaign with a .218 batting average to go with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs at the season's midway point.

Seattle, who began the season with a hefty payroll of $117 million and high hopes of contending for the playoffs, had the worst mark in the American League at 36-55 entering Thursday's game with Oakland and have already fired their manager and general manager.

The final straw for Sexson came when he showed his displeasure with being put on the bench for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, baseball website mlb.com reported.

"He has been in the lineup every day, until yesterday, and when he wasn't, he was not happy about it," interim manager Jim Riggleman told reporters. "Nothing was said, but his body language indicated that he was a little perturbed by that.

"I thought, 'You know what? This is the way it's going to be in the near future.' So rather than have that, I felt it was time to do this."

Sexson led Seattle with 39 home runs and 121 RBIs while batting .263 in 2005, his first season with the club. In 2006 he batted .264 with 34 homers and 107 RBIs.

Sexson can be signed by another major league team for about $200,000 -- half the MLB minimum salary. The Mariners are responsible for the remainder of Sexson's contract.

The Mariners' pitching staff also took a hit on Thursday as hard-throwing lefthander Erik Bedard was put on the 15-day disabled list with stiffness in his left shoulder.

To fill the roster openings, Seattle called up right-handed pitcher Jared Wells and infielder Tug Hulett from Triple A Tacoma.

(Writing by Larry Fine, Editing by Justin Palmer)