The Hanshin Tigers said Friday they have released lefty Trey Moore from the Central League team.
Team president Katsuyoshi Nozaki said the decision to let Moore go was made after considering his value to the entire makeup of the Central League champion team.
The 31-year-old Moore, a former player for the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos, had not made any concrete moves to stay on with the Tigers for 2004, team officials said.
Newly appointed manager Akinobu Okada said former manager Senichi Hoshino had become used to Moore's poor performances, adding that "If he were to win seven or eight games next season, it would be better to rely on young talent."