Spiezio released by Cardinals after arrest warrant

MIAMI (Reuters) - The St Louis Cardinals have released Scott Spiezio just hours after an arrest warrant was issued for the utilityman on alcohol-related driving charges.

Six charges, including driving under the influence and hit-and-run with property damage, were filed on Tuesday against Spiezio in Orange County, California and an arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday, the team said.

Spiezio was already having off-the-field problems, having been placed on the restricted list by the Cardinals late last year to seek treatment for substance abuse issues.

"I think when you look at the past year, it becomes the sum of the parts," general manager John Mozeliak said on the team's Web site (www.stlouiscardinals.com)

"We were in a situation here after learning what we learned... we felt we were at a crossroads. And we felt it was in the best interest of our organization and in Scott's to go separate ways."

The warrant for Spiezio's arrest on Tuesday was rescinded after the infielder was represented by his attorneys late Wednesday in Orange County, the Cardinals said.

A 12-year major league veteran, Spiezio has a career .255 batting average with 119 home runs. He was a key member of the 2002 Anaheim Angels team that won the World Series.

Spiezio is scheduled to be arraigned on March 26 on charges related to the Dec 30, 2007 traffic accident, the Cardinals said.

(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Miles Evans)