The Tampa Bay Rays released first baseman James Loney on Sunday, hours before their season opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rays president of baseball operations Matt Silverman announced Saturday that the team already had informed Loney that he would not make the Opening Day roster.
The Rays had been attempting to make a trade involving Loney, is scheduled to make $8 million this season.
Loney, 31, batted .280 with four home runs and 32 RBIs in 104 games last season, his third with the Rays.