Really stupid that they promised him things and didn't live up to it.
https://www.metv.com/stories/wayne-rogers-had-beef-from-the-first-day-on-m-a-s-h
He said he didn't think the show would last and got out to pursue other avenues, but once he saw it lasted 11 seasons, he said if he would've known it would've lasted that long, he would've stayed on
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Some shows just pivot, and it may not work the way an actor wanted.
Happy Days pivoted to the Fonzie Show and while the show took a big downturn with the live audience and too much Fonzie, the ratings shot through the roof.
I watched MASH from the beginning and liked it more with the "second" cast.
He was also led to believe that his character would be pretty much equal in prominence, as Trapper and Hawkeye had been in the movie -- in the book (and the movie), Trapper was the senior surgeon, having been brought into the 4077th because he had skills Hawkeye, and Hawkeye's buddy Duke Forrest (a character omitted from the series) did not, and it was Trapper, not Hawkeye, who became chief surgeon at the 4077th.
But in the TV series, Rogers found himself pretty much relegated to playing Alan Alda's sidekick, so that also contributed to his desire to leave the show.
Rogers actually manipulated his own release. He didn't sign his contract so when they tried to use it to force him to stay, they had to let him go.
share'He was also led to believe that his character would be pretty much equal in prominence, as Trapper and Hawkeye had been in the movie... But in the TV series, Rogers found himself pretty much relegated to playing Alan Alda's sidekick, so that also contributed to his desire to leave the show.'
I heard the same.