The Associated Press

The Chicago White Sox released Jose Paniagua on Wednesday, a day after he made an obscene gesture at the plate umpire as he left the field.

"It was a decision we felt we had to make," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said before Chicago's game against Minnesota.

"You have to excuse a certain amount of failures out there when you haven't pitched in a year," Williams added. "What's inexcusable are the actions that happened afterward. That's not what we stand for."

With the White Sox leading the Twins 8-2 on Tuesday night, Paniagua came in to relieve in the ninth, his first appearance in the major leagues in a year. He gave up four runs, three hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning, and was apparently upset with some of the calls made by plate umpire Mark Carlson.

TWINS: Starter Joe Mays will have ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow and will likely miss the 2004 season.

Dr. James Andrews will perform the operation today in Birmingham, Ala. Mays, signed to a $20 million, four-year contract in January 2002, missed three months last season with elbow trouble, and had surgery after the season.

BRAVES: Closer John Smoltz is in Birmingham, Ala., to rehab his injured pitching elbow.

The right-hander, on the disabled list for two weeks with tendinitis, is being treated by Andrews.

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said Smoltz would be in Birmingham through Thursday. He is not expected to join the team for an upcoming six-game road trip to Florida and Montreal.

When Smoltz went on the DL, the team said he would return Sept. 8, the first day he was eligible. But he's had pain in his elbow after a few throwing sessions, and his comeback has been delayed.

Smoltz has 44 saves and an ERA of 0.89. Before the injury, he was on pace to break the major league record 57 saves, set by Bobby Thigpen in 1990.