Mets Release Soler

Alay Soler's difficult journey to Flushing has reached a dead end.

The Mets released the Cuban defector last night, the Daily News has learned. Soler, pitching in relief of Chan Ho Park yesterday, allowed two runs on three hits, including a Ryan Zimmerman homer, in 1-2/3 innings against the Nationals to lift his spring ERA to 8.22.

The Mets originally signed Soler, 27, to a $2.8 million contract in August 2004 after he fled Cuba. But Soler had visa difficulties. He also had major trouble with an agent, who was eventually suspended by the Players Association for withholding documents while trying to get an exorbitant cut of the deal.

Soler couldn't even enter the U.S. for the '05 season.

He pitched 45 innings for the Mets last year. His highlights came in June, when he picked up his first major-league win by limiting the Dodgers to one run in seven innings. He then tossed a two-hit shutout five days later in Arizona. He went 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA.

Soler would have been due $826,000 at the major-league level and $620,000 at Triple-A.
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