Even after all of the recent injuries for the Atlanta Braves inside of the pitching staff, they have decided to part ways with Freddy Garcia.
A $1.25 million guaranteed salary would have been inescapable to keep the veteran pitcher and clearly the Braves front office did not want to pay him that.
"They didn't want to pick up the (contract)," said Garcia, who would've been guaranteed $1.25 million if he'd made the opening day roster. "I've got to go."
In his 15-year career, Garcia has thrown 12 complete games, four shutouts and 1,621 strikeouts in only 2,264.0 innings pitched. He has also won 156 games with a 4.15 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.
"I think there could be other things that happen, and we just have to stay in a position where we haven't definitively drawn up the 25 (man roster) until we know who that group's going to be," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. "There's still four days, and other roster decisions that could be made in other camps that could impact that…. Just be patient, we'll figure it out."
It is a very questionable decision as the Braves will not have three of there starting pitchers by Opening Day. Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy will both miss months of the season as they have already undergone Tommy John Surgery due to injuries sustained in spring-training games, while Mike Minor has been put on the 15-day disabled list.
"Our depth should change drastically three weeks into the season," Wren said when asked about the Braves releasing Garcia despite so little starting-pitcher depth.
The Braves have also re-assigned Tommy La Stella and Tyler Green to minor league camp, optioned relief pitcher Ryan Buchter and outfielders Jose Constanza and Joey Terdoslavich to Triple-A Gwinnett and cut five other players from the spring-training roster.
A $1.25 million guaranteed salary would have been inescapable to keep the veteran pitcher and clearly the Braves front office did not want to pay him that.
"They didn't want to pick up the (contract)," said Garcia, who would've been guaranteed $1.25 million if he'd made the opening day roster. "I've got to go."
In his 15-year career, Garcia has thrown 12 complete games, four shutouts and 1,621 strikeouts in only 2,264.0 innings pitched. He has also won 156 games with a 4.15 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.
"I think there could be other things that happen, and we just have to stay in a position where we haven't definitively drawn up the 25 (man roster) until we know who that group's going to be," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. "There's still four days, and other roster decisions that could be made in other camps that could impact that…. Just be patient, we'll figure it out."
It is a very questionable decision as the Braves will not have three of there starting pitchers by Opening Day. Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy will both miss months of the season as they have already undergone Tommy John Surgery due to injuries sustained in spring-training games, while Mike Minor has been put on the 15-day disabled list.
"Our depth should change drastically three weeks into the season," Wren said when asked about the Braves releasing Garcia despite so little starting-pitcher depth.
The Braves have also re-assigned Tommy La Stella and Tyler Green to minor league camp, optioned relief pitcher Ryan Buchter and outfielders Jose Constanza and Joey Terdoslavich to Triple-A Gwinnett and cut five other players from the spring-training roster.