The Milwaukee Brewers announced today that they have released veteran RHP, Kelvim Escobar. Escobar was attempting to revive his career after being out of baseball the past three years. That revival was cut short when he was just recently diagnosed with a nerve impingement in his right hand (throwing arm) during his first Spring Training appearance. The pitching starved Brewers were unwilling to wait on him to become healthy and released him.
Escobar was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an amateur free agent in 1992. He fluctuated between the rotation and the bullpen during the minor leagues and during his initial few years with the Blue Jays. It wasn’t until 2003 that he was established as a starter, finishing with a 12-8 record and a 3.92 ERA.
Following the 2003 season, Escobar signed a three year $18.75 million dollar contract with the Anaheim Angels and re-signed with the Angels after his contract expired to the tune of another 3 year deal but this time, it was worth 28.5 mil. He experienced the best season if his career in 2007, going 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA.
Throughout his entire career, he has been hampered by arm and shoulder injuries. Given the fact that he has suffered yet another injury and that he has been out of baseball for three years, we may very well have seen the last of Kelvim Escobar on a big league team.