Jay Gibbons was released yesterday by the Baltimore Orioles, who lost patience waiting for the oft-injured outfielder to regain the form that enabled him to hit 26 home runs in 2005.

Gibbons batted .189 with no homers and four RBIs in 16 games this spring training after playing in only 84 games last season. Baltimore owes him $11.9 million for the next two seasons as part of a $21.1 million, four-year contract he agreed to in January 2006.

ELSEWHERE

Giants: San Francisco designated reliever Steve Kline for assignment and placed shortstop Omar Vizquel on the 15-day disabled list yesterday. Starting pitcher Noah Lowry, projected third in the Giants rotation before undergoing surgery on his left wrist in early March, was also placed on the 15-day DL along with right-hander Vinnie Chulk and infielder Kevin Frandsen. All the moves are retroactive to March 21.

Dodgers: Los Angeles placed third basemen Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche and right-hander Jason Schmidt on the 15-day disabled list. Tony Abreu, another third baseman, is sure to join them before today's season opener against San Francisco.

Braves: Right-hander John Smoltz threw 83 pitches over five innings against minor leaguers in Florida yesterday, and is on track to make his regular-season debut next weekend.

Pirates: Pittsburgh reacquired utilityman Matt Kata in a deal with Colorado and signed right-hander Jason Davis to be a starting pitcher at Triple-A Indianapolis. Colorado will receive future considerations for Kata.

White Sox: Chicago placed outfielder Jerry Owens and infielder Danny Richar on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, and optioned pitcher Ehren Wassermann to Triple-A Charlotte.

Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list. The 44-year-old Johnson went on the disabled list retroactive to March 22.

Mets: New York made Mike Pelfrey its fifth starter. The move means right-hander Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who has been bothered by a foot issue, likely will start the season on the 15-day disabled list

Tigers: Middle relievers Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney were placed on the disabled list by Detroit. Zumaya is recovering from shoulder surgery and is expected to be sidelined until midseason. Rodney also had shoulder injury. Detroit also put right-hander Jordan Tata (hand) and catcher Vance Wilson (elbow) on the DL, optioned left-handed pitcher Clay Rapada to Triple-A Toledo, and put right-hander Francisco Cruceta on the restricted list.