Cincinnati Reds release Carlos Marmol

Former All Star closer Carlos Marmol has officially been released by the Cincinnati Reds. Baseball America’s Matt Eddy noted the decision in his latest minor league transactions update. The moved had long appeared to be an inevitability.

Marmol had begun the 2014 season with the Miami Marlins after signing a free agent deal with the team last winter. He made 15 appearances with the team, going 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA and 1.950 WHIP before the team released him in mid-May. Marmol signed a minor league deal with the Reds later that month.

The now 32 year old made just three appearances with the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate, allowing three runs on two hits and six walks in 3.2 IP.

Cincinnati placed Marmol on the restricted list a few weeks later after he left the team without permission. Marmol’s agent, Paul Kinzer, ultimately relayed that his client needed to take a “mental break” and that the team was notified before he left, though they weren’t necessarily pleased with the decision. There were also reports that he was attending to family matters back home in the Dominican Republic. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman noted at the time that Marmol may not return to pitch during the 2014 season.

Marmol had developed into a reliable option at the back of the Chicago Cubs’ bullpen early in his career. From 2007 to 2012 he posted a 2.90 ERA, 1.243 WHIP, and 12.6 K/9 while saving 115 games. Control issues had also been a concern, but they’d started to worsen and the Cubs traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2013 season. Things continued to fall apart from there.