SEATTLE — Slugger Richie Sexson was finally released yesterday by the Mariners after a slump that lasted for most of two seasons and made him a target of constant booing from frustrated Seattle fans.

The Mariners would have loved to have been able to trade Sexson, but his $14 million salary this season made that nearly impossible. So now Seattle is eating the rest of that money — $6,120,219 Sexson is owed from today through the end of the season.

That amount would be reduced by a prorated share of the $390,000 minimum salary if Sexson signs with another team.

"I think we gave Richie a lot of rope ... and there just wasn't enough improvement," said Mariners interim general manager Lee Pelekoudas.

Sexson, a 33-year-old native of Brush Prairie, Wash., was batting .218 with just 30 RBIs in 74 games.

The Mariners also placed opening-day starter Erik Bedard on the 15-day disabled list with stiffness in his left shoulder. The move, retroactive to July 5, means Bedard will be eligible to return on July 20.

METS

New York left fielder Moises Alou likely will miss the rest of the year because of a torn left hamstring, a setback that could mean the end of his 17-season career.

Trying to rehab a lingering strained left calf, the oft-injured Alou left Wednesday's game for Double-A Binghamton because of cramping in his hamstring. Doctors in New York discovered the tear yesterday.

ELSEWHERE

Blue Jays: Toronto outfielder Vernon Wells is expected to miss four to six weeks with a strained left hamstring after being placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday. Wells got injured stealing third base in the sixth inning of Wednesday's game against Baltimore.

Cardinals: St. Louis left-hander Mark Mulder was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with a shoulder strain, one day after he left his comeback start after facing only three batters. Mulder, coming back from two shoulder operations, complained of shoulder discomfort in his start against Philadelphia and threw only 16 pitches.

Diamondbacks: Arizona outfielder Justin Upton likely will be sidelined through the All-Star break with a strained oblique muscle. Upton was hurt while swinging during batting practice before Wednesday night's game against Washington.

Nationals: Infielder Aaron Boone was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday, making him the 15th Washington player to be shelved this season. Boone strained his left calf while running in Saturday's game at Cincinnati. He is batting .258 with five homers and 17 RBIs.

Reds: Cincinnati got some good news yesterday when MRI results on two-time 16-game winner Aaron Harang showed only a strain of his right forearm. The 6-foot-7 right-hander will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Rockies: Colorado's Matt Holliday will replace injured Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano in the National League starting lineup for Tuesday's All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. "I thought I had a chance with Soriano not being able to play," Holliday said.