The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays released Greg Vaughn on Saturday, giving up on their highest-paid player.

Tampa Bay will ask waivers Monday on Vaughn for the purpose of his unconditional release. If he isn't claimed by Wednesday, and there's virtually no chance he will be, the Devil Rays must pay his guaranteed $9.25 million salary.

Vaughn, 37, was in the final season of a $34 million, four-year contract. The Devil Rays would be responsible for paying $5 million of the remaining salary this year, with the rest deferred at 3 percent interest.

"The direction of the club is youth," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "When Greg Vaughn signed that contract, we were heading in a different direction."

PHILLIES: David Bell hit three home runs, two off struggling Casey Fossum, and had five RBI as the Phillies beat the Red Sox 11-6.

Bell hit a three-run homer in the first and a solo shot in third off Fossum, who gave up three homers and seven runs in four innings.

Bell said it was his first three-homer game at any level.

"It is spring training, but you're working every day to get comfortable, get in the groove, especially now," Bell said.

YANKEES: David Wells declined to take part in a photo shoot Saturday for Sports Illustrated that featured the New York Yankees' starting pitchers and owner George Steinbrenner.

The photo, intended for the cover of the next edition, features Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Jeff Weaver and Jose Contreras.

"Who can tell?" Steinbrenner said when asked where Wells was. "I really don't care."

• Clemens, a six-time Cy Young Award winner, was officially picked Saturday to start the New York Yankees' opener at Toronto March 31.

SHORT HOPS: Montreal Expos ace Javier Vazquez could miss the season opener because of a strained calf muscle.

Vazquez was hurt in Friday's start against Florida, and the Expos estimated Saturday he will be sidelined for five to 14 days.

• Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove is putting Jason Johnson in the starting rotation, leaving Rick Helling and Pat Hentgen to compete for the final slot.

Johnson joins opening day starter Rodrigo Lopez, Omar Daal and Sidney Ponson in the five-man rotation.

• Colorado's Denny Neagle had no trouble with his sore left elbow in a bullpen session Saturday, but his status as opening-day starter still remains unclear.

GAME REPORT: Rookie Jeremy Bonderman was given a spot in Detroit's starting rotation and then got rocked for four home runs in four innings in a 10-3 loss to the Indians.

Milton Bradley homered twice and Karim Garcia and Matt Lawton connected off Bonderman.

• Andy Pettitte allowed one run and three hits over five-plus innings in the Yankees' 4-3 loss to the Twins.

Pettitte, on target to start the Yankees' home opener April 7 against the Twins, struck out four and walked one during an 84-pitch outing. He has allowed five runs - four earned - over 17 2/3 innings in five spring starts.

• Victor Zambrano allowed one run and four hits in six innings as the Devil Rays beat the Pirates 8-2.

Aubrey Huff went 3-for-4, including a two-run homer in the third off Jeff D'Amico, who a day earlier won a job in the Pirates' rotation.

Zambrano, the only player to reach the major leagues from Tampa Bay's first minicamp in 1996, struck out four and walked one.

• Making his fourth start, Mike Hampton pitched six scoreless innings as the Braves beat the Mets 4-1.

He lowered his spring ERA from 7.07 to 4.95.

• Mike Kinkade and Terry Shumpert homered in a six-run eighth inning off reliever Octavio Dotel to lead the Dodgers over the Astros 6-4.