Pirates release veteran pitcher Matt Morris

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Matt Morris, the veteran right-hander added by the Pittsburgh Pirates late last season to stabilize a young rotation, was released Sunday after failing to pitch past the second inning in his latest start.

Morris fell to 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA after giving up six runs, three earned, and six hits in 12‚Ñ3 innings during an 8-4 loss to the Phillies Saturday night.

The decision to cut him will cost the Pirates more than $10 million, besides what they already have paid him this season. Morris is making $10,037,283, or about one-fifth of the Pirates’ payroll, and has a $1 million buyout for 2009.

“Matt Morris is a true professional,” manager John Russell said. “He’s had a great career. He wanted to help us win, but it just wasn’t working out.”

Morris is 121-92 with a 3.98 ERA in 11 seasons, mostly with the Cardinals.

He was a career-best 22-8 with a 3.16 ERA in 2001 and averaged nearly 16 wins per season with St. Louis from 2001-05.

The 33-year-old Morris was ineffective in all five starts this season, unable to throw with much velocity or to locate his breaking pitches.

He was chased early in each of his final three starts, surrendering 22 hits and 20 runs, 17 earned, in 101‚Ñ3 innings against the Dodgers, Marlins and Phillies.