Penny unwise. (The Closer).(Brief Article)

Agents complained all winter about the depressed free agent market and the number of veterans who had no choice but to agree to minor league contracts. But the release of several players near the end of spring training demonstrated that certain clubs were too cavalier in their commitments.

The Astros will pay former ace Shane Reynolds $1 million not to pitch for them this season. The Cardinals took a combined $900,000 hit when they cut relievers Al Levine and Joey Hamilton, And even clubs that declined to guarantee such money were obligated to pay one-fourth of the salary of any player on a major league contract released before March 27. Thus, the Pirates owed $206,000 in termination pay to reliever Matt Herges, the Padres $185,000 to righthander Francisco Cordova.

Those sums ...