CLEARWATER, Fla., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Outfielder Kenny Lofton, now with the Philadelphia Phillies, had some criticism Monday for his 2004 manager, Joe Torre of the New York Yankees.
Lofton, a 14-year veteran, said Torre didn't want him in the lineup, MLB.com reported.
"He didn't want me to play," Lofton said after arriving at the Phillies spring training camp.
"He makes out the lineup. That's the bottom line. It bothered me last year, because I feel I'm a guy who still could play. If a team doesn't feel I should play, they need to just send me home or send me somewhere else where I can play."
Lofton said there were "a lot of things thrown to me last year, things I don't want to talk to the media about," and that he is looking forward to playing under Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel.
"It' a case where Joe had his core guys. You come over here to a guy who knows, understands and likes you. Charlie is a guy who I can respect as a manager."
A Yankees representative said Torre had no comment.
Lofton played in 83 games with the Yankees, hitting .275 with 10 doubles and seven triples.
