The Toronto Blue Jays have released starting pitcher Jaime Garcia in the midst of a frustrating 2018 season, according to reporter Keegan Matheson.
It was reported last weekend that the Blue Jays were designating Garcia for assignment last week, in order to make room for a returning Aaron Sanchez. Thus, the release of the 32-year-old lefty comes as expected.
The Blue Jays inked Garcia to a one-year contract worth $8 million in the offseason, with a club option for 2019. But the veteran southpaw simply flopped with his new team, posting a 3-6 record with a horrendous 5.93 ERA in 74.1 innings pitched.
Toronto has gotten solid production out of rookie Ryan Borucki, and with Sanchez finally healthy, there was no room for Garcia, who had been moved to the bullpen. And with that, general manager Ross Atkins moves on from from a free agent signing that simply didn't deliver as the back end starter he had hoped for.
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Garcia is just one of the many veteran players the Blue Jays have moved on from since the July trade deadline. Steve Pearce, J.A. Happ, Aaron Loup and Seung Hwan Oh were all moved out, and it's possible that star third baseman Josh Donaldson gets traded before Friday's deadline.
The Blue Jays also placed slugger Kendrys Morales and starting pitcher Marco Estrada on waivers, but Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports reported Wednesday that both cleared, and are now free to get traded.
After reaching back-to-back ALCS in 2015 and '16, the Blue Jays have faltered and are headed for a second straight losing and non-playoff season. The Garcia signing is one of the many moves by the front office that didn't pan out, and they'll certainly have to change that trend this winter.
Given his struggles and inconsistency, it's unlikely that any playoff contender will pick up Garcia this late in the season.