Carlos Pena Unconditionally Released

After hitting a homer in every 14 AB after he was recalled to Detroit last August, 1B Carlos Pena was only too happy to agree to a fat $2.5 million contract. Ironically, when he signed it was like his death warrant, for the money was not guaranteed and left the Tigers with few other options but to cut him when he lost the first base assignment to another righthanded bat, Chris Shelton. The Tigers had no intention of paying big money to a reserve, and Shelton is under contract for less than $400,000. Shelton batted .299 with 18 HR in 388 AB last year.