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Controversial first baseman Rafael Palmeiro and disappointing slugger Sammy Sosa will not return to the Baltimore Orioles next season, a top team official said.
"At this point, we are heading in a different direction," club executive vice president Mike Flanagan told The Baltimore Sun.
Both players, now unrestricted free agents, are expected to seek to continue their careers with other teams.
Palmeiro, 41, was suspended for 10 days in August for a positive drugs test but has continued to deny he intentionally took steroids.
A U.S. congressional committee last week decided it did not have enough evidence to seek perjury charges against Palmeiro, who in March had told the panel: "I have never used steroids. Period."
Palmeiro collected his 3,000 career hit in July, but after he suffered knee and ankle injuries, the Orioles said in September Palmeiro would not return to the team for the remainder of the season although he wanted to.
The 37-year-old Sosa had been acquired from the Chicago Cubs to provide the Orioles with additional power hitting. He batted only .221 and had only 14 home runs, his fewest since 1992.
"At this point, we are heading in a different direction," club executive vice president Mike Flanagan told The Baltimore Sun.
Both players, now unrestricted free agents, are expected to seek to continue their careers with other teams.
Palmeiro, 41, was suspended for 10 days in August for a positive drugs test but has continued to deny he intentionally took steroids.
A U.S. congressional committee last week decided it did not have enough evidence to seek perjury charges against Palmeiro, who in March had told the panel: "I have never used steroids. Period."
Palmeiro collected his 3,000 career hit in July, but after he suffered knee and ankle injuries, the Orioles said in September Palmeiro would not return to the team for the remainder of the season although he wanted to.
The 37-year-old Sosa had been acquired from the Chicago Cubs to provide the Orioles with additional power hitting. He batted only .221 and had only 14 home runs, his fewest since 1992.
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