Atlanta Braves release pitcher Scott Kazmir

Things can change quickly at the end of Spring Training, but this move is particularly unexpected

In the wake of some kind of injury to starting pitcher Scott Kazmir, the Atlanta Braves have decided to release the veteran – and swallow the $16 million still remaining on his contract.

MLBTR had this to say about the injury:

"After pitching a scoreless inning today in a Grapefruit League game, Kazmir left the mound with what was described at the time as arm fatigue."

This represents a surprising turn-around, given that Kazmir had shown some promise of a return to health – though without anything resembling dominating ‘stuff’.  It’s perhaps with that in mind that the Braves picked up Anibal Sanchez just over a week ago on a $1 million minor league deal… and now that insurance policy will be cashed in.

That contract of Kazmir’s was an interesting one, though:  he was set to pocket half of that in 2018 with the other $8,000,000 deferred to 2021.  Those terms will continue, so the Braves are “only” on the hook for $8 million in 2018… which was going to be the case regardless of whether he pitched for them or not.  They will be responsible for the deferred amount as well, but not for another three years.

Earlier today, Jeff discussed the run-up to this event, which included the report that he’d thrown a particularly long bullpen session on Wednesday under the (apparent) belief that he wouldn’t be called upon today.

We still don’t know the extent of injury he may have (the above note notwithstanding), though the 34-year-old has had considerable difficulty staying healthy over the past several years.  He managed 190 and 183 innings in 2014-15, but had not exceeded 160 innings in any other season since 2007.

This Spring, Kazmir recorded a 4.22 ERA in 10.2 innings, which included a single 1-hit-no-run inning today.  The Braves lost to the Yankees 8-3, thanks to a late 6 run burst that had nothing to do with active roster players.

Who’s on Deck?

You might be clamoring for Mike Soroka here, or possibly Max Fried, but that”s not going to happen.  Sanchez has the experience and with Gohara expected to return by at least early May (if not sooner), it would be difficult to juggle the roster for anyone else – especially Soroka – just for a stop-gap role.  The Braves would prefer to wait until a rotation path is fully clear for him.

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Anibal Sanchez isn’t on the 40-man yet himself, but will soon get Kazmir’s slot.  Sanchez was apparently being groomed for the role of ‘long man’ in the bullpen; now the plan pivots to set him up as 5th starter for April 10… the first time that a 5th starter will be needed.

With this change, it isn’t known now whether a different ‘long man’ will be put into the pen until then:  it would not be Sanchez, since that could disrupt his routine for starting.

The Braves could choose to hold an extra ‘regular’ reliever for a while or go with Fried or Matt Wisler in the interim.

But aside from those relatively minor considerations, today’s news marks the end of the short tenure of Scott Kazmir as a Brave.

In the trade that brought him to Atlanta, we truly didn’t know what the team would get out of him, owing to that colorful injury history.

Next: This was better news, at least

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is now known:  nothing – other than helping to clear payroll for after the 2018 season.