For Delucia, It’s the Unkindest Cut of All

Rich DeLucia traveled to Phoenix for Tuesday’s exhibition game against Oakland and was scheduled to pitch against the A’s, but soon after he arrived at Municipal Stadium, he was told to return to Tempe.

An hour later, DeLucia paced the Tempe Diablo Stadium clubhouse in a daze, wondering how an Angel team that relied so heavily on him last season could dump him so unceremoniously this spring.

“They’re concerned about my health, but deep down, I know it’s about money,� said DeLucia, who had a 4.27 earned-run average and three saves in 61 appearances last season. “They probably had to pay a part of Dave [Hollins’] contract, [minor league invitees] Mike Fyhrie and Toby Borland are throwing great, and they saw this as a chance to save some money and get the same numbers.�

DeLucia, 33, was scheduled to make $700,000 this season, but by releasing him Monday, the Angels will have to pay about one-fourth of his contract, $175,000. Had they not released DeLucia by this morning, they would have had to pay his entire salary.

General Manager Bill Bavasi said financial concerns played a role “in when we let him go, but not why we let him go. We don’t base those decisions on money.�

Manager Terry Collins said he was concerned about some mechanical changes DeLucia made in his delivery, and that he had lost some velocity on his fastball.

“He’s pitched great for us for two years, but we didn’t know whether he was going to be able to do it again,� Collins said. “We felt we had to make a decision right now and move ahead.�

Angel right-hander Ken Hill will oppose Dodger right-hander Ismael Valdes in Friday night’s Freeway Series game in Edison Field.