Paniagua Is Cut for Obscene Gesture

The Chicago White Sox released reliever Jose Paniagua on Wednesday, a day after he made an obscene gesture at plate umpire Mark Carlson as he left the field during a game against Minnesota.

“That’s not what we stand for,” White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams said.

Paniagua entered in the ninth inning, his first appearance in the major leagues in a year, and gave up four runs in one-third of an inning.

Paniagua apparently was upset with some of the calls made by Carlson.

The White Sox went on to win, 8-6.

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Minnesota starter Joe Mays will have ligament replacement surgery today on his right elbow and probably will sit out the 2004 season.

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Baseball’s relocation committee has not ruled out any option for the Montreal Expos next season, Commissioner Bud Selig said in a news conference at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Selig said the options for the team include finding a buyer, playing all 81 home games at Montreal, or playing a split home schedule between Montreal and San Juan or Montreal and Monterrey, Mexico.