Avery Out Of Rotation One Start Shy Of Earning $3.9 Million Contract Option

Steve Avery has been removed from the Boston Red Sox rotation, one start short of automatically earning a $3.9 million contract for 1998.

Avery, signed in the off-season to help offset the free-agent departure of Roger Clemens, is 6-6 with a 6.57 ERA in 17 starts. Injured for much of the season, he is making $4.85 million this year.

Avery was guaranteed a $3.9 million contract for 1998 if he made 18 starts this season.

“We’re going to put him in the bullpen, see if he can work some things out,” Red Sox manager Jimy Williams said after a 4-2 loss in 10 innings Monday at Montreal Expos. “It’s best for him and for our club right now.”

Even though he’s been roughed up in his last four starts - going 0-4 with an 18.47 ERA - the left-hander believes the move has more to do with his contract status than his performance.

“I think it’s more a business move than a baseball move right now,” Avery said. “It seems to me like they’re saying, ‘You’re better off elsewhere next year.’ That’s fine.”

Williams disagreed.

“I have to manage the team the best way I can to win as many games as we can,” Williams said. “I don’t run the franchise, I don’t sign contracts, I don’t talk about contracts. I have an obligation to put the best people out there.”