Colorado Rockies Release Jon Garland

Jon Garland has been released by the Rockies after struggling in 12 starts this season. (Image Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

It was somewhat of a surprise when Jon Garland began the season pitching in the starting rotation for the Colorado Rockies. He’d signed a minor league deal in the winter with the Seattle Mariners, but as the season drew near it became evident that he wouldn’t be making the team. He exercised an out clause in his deal and wound up signing a deal to join the Rockies the next day. The veteran right-hander’s performance on the mound, however, wasn’t quite good enough to keep him with the team for long as the team announced early Monday afternoon that they’d released the 33 year old after designating him for assignment on Saturday.

Garland made 12 starts for the Rockies, throwing 68.0 IP in which he posted a 5.82 ERA and 1.588 WHIP. He was 4-6 on the year.

After undergoing shoulder surgery in July 2011 and sitting out the entire 2012 season it seemed possible that Garland’s career may have been over before he inked the minor league deal with Seattle at the onset of Spring Training. It remains to be seen where things will take him now, as any team that expresses an interest in signing him may ask him to first spend some time in the minor leagues before handing him a spot in their starting rotation. Garland didn’t seem enamored with that idea in late March and it’s unclear if he’d be willing to accept such a move now. If this is the end he’ll finish with a career record of 136-125 with a 4.37 ERA over 2,151.1 IP.