A Definite Candidate for a Release

[love_that_reefer]

A scout told CBS' Danny Knobler that Scott Kazmir showed "no velocity" and "no command" on Sunday.
"Terrible. No velocity. No command. No nothing," is the exact quote from the scout. And it showed in the lefty's final stat line, as Kazmir served up five earned runs in less than two innings to a bad Royals team.

Kazmir has a terrible spring and just looks like he doesn't have anything to offer at the MLB level anymore. He is owed $12 million this season, just like Oliver Perez was. If I were the Angels, Kazmir would be a goner. He posted a lovely 5.94 ERA last year and there is no end in sight to the downfall.

[HollywoodLeo]

It's kind of funny that the Angels passed on him in the draft, missed out on his best years, then traded for him when he's overpriced and suddenly no good.

[Foster]

Not like the Angels to do something like that?

[Kingdom]

Sounds perfect for the Mets

[catman]

That the team that signed him first. He would be a great fit in Queens.

[Tobywan]

Scotty was throwing on the sideline last night, Mike Butcher and Steve Soliz were working with him, probably a good 45 minutes. Perhaps it's just something mechanical, but he didn't look like the bright eyed, baby faced kid I remember, he looked a little haggard to me.

[Foster]

Wow, new favourite quote right there.

[love_that_reefer]

Kazmir goes on the DL with a stiff back. How convenient.

[love_that_reefer]

Scott Kazmir (back) was horrid again Tuesday in a rehab outing for Triple-A Salt Lake, surrendering six runs on five hits, three walks and a hit by pitch over just 1 2/3 innings.
That should just about do it. Kazmir has been simply dreadful in his five rehab appearances, posting a 17.02 ERA over just 15 1/3 innings, and he's given the Angels almost no choice but to release him at this point. We should hear about a decision within a few days.

Angels should release him and he should just take the year off. Try to give that arm a rest and comeback strong next year.

[zodious]

Slyder would sign him...

[ljshorty89]

Amazing that trading Kazmir for Victor Zambrano at one point looked like the worst trade the Mets made in recent history. Still not a good one considering what they could have gotten, but it's nice in a schadenfreude kind of way to see something backfire for someone else.

[love_that_reefer]

Well the Rays definitely won both trades. Kazmir was finally released today.

[Tobywan]

The only thing I objected to in the Kaz trade to Anaheim was the timing, I don't think the trade would have had less value on our side had it been made in the off season, he was viable at the time. I can't help but wonder if there isn't something more than just diminished skills. I said earlier when I saw here at the Trop in April, he didn’t even look the same, he had more lines in his face than I do and I’ve got decades on him.

[love_that_reefer]

The Rays saved more money at the time they traded him. Hard to argue against Friedman these days.

[Tobywan]

The money would have been just as saved making the deal in the off season. It came out later of course that supposedly there were "issues" between Kaz and Hickey the pitching coach, which the Rays probably felt would be more of a distraction. I don’t argue that Friedman did or didn’t make the right decision. However, since he himself at the time denied it was a “salary dump” why pull that trigger when on the day it was made the Rays were only back by 3 ½ games in the WC. Fried either lied or there was something internally going on that needed to be hushed as to why this was done at the end of August instead of December. Not that he or they actually OWE anyone the gritty details of any trades or decisions, it just seemed strange at the time because the move didn’t match what was being made public. It was not a “popular” move at the time, though in reality it is kind of good to know they will sometimes make decisions without worrying whether the fans will like it or not.