Pitcher Kevin Correia has declared free agency from the Giants in advance of his June 1st opt-out date, according to the MLB.com transactions page. Correia was well pitching for Triple-A Sacramento, but there was simply no room for him on the big league roster.
In 37 2/3 innings this season, Correia posted a 3.58 ERA with 6.0 K/9 against 2.6 BB/9. Even though that performance comes from a limited sample size of six starts, it’s not hard to imagine Correia fielding interest from teams in need of pitching this summer.
Correia originally signed a minor league pact with the Mariners on March 9th of this year, but he was granted his release on March 30th when he was to be demoted from big league camp. Less than two weeks later, the Giants picked him up on a minor league deal that included two opt out dates, one on June 1st and another on July 1st. After pushing the eject button prior to the first date, Correia will now be in search of his third team in 2015.
Correia split the 2014 season between the Twins and Dodgers, struggling to one of the least effective seasons of his big league career. The All Bases Covered Sports Management client served as a durable source of innings for Minnesota in the first season of a two-year, $10MM contract in 2013, but last year he slumped to a 5.44 ERA, averaging just 4.6 strikeouts per nine innings against a solid average of 2.3 walks per nine. His previously above-average ground-ball rate dipped below the league average as well, checking in at 43.2 percent. Still, both FIP and xFIP feel that Correia’s ERA could’ve been a bit lower, pegging him at 4.67,
The veteran was a fourth-round pick of the Giants in 2002 and spent parts of the 2003-08 seasons with the Giants, working to a combined 4.59 ERA in 398 innings between the rotation and bullpen.
On Saturday, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported that Correia was likely to be released by the Giants this weekend.
Can’t be much worse then what the Phillies are currently throwing out there
For a league minimum it’s a no brainer. At the back of the rotation he’d be competing with Jerome Williams, Severino Gonzalez and Sean O’ Sullivan. It’s a big back of the rotation — don’t ask, it’s the Amaro Plan.
Severino Gonzalez was rushed the majors because Lee, Billingsly, Buchanan, MAG and Pettibone are all hurt or failed. Just send him back down and put Correia to eat innings.
Red Sox could definitely use him.
Is that a joke?
Is he still a major league starter or would he be more of a long man-spot start guy?
Come to Japan‼︎
Thank goodness the Giants didn’t need to bring him up.
He’ll show up somewhere that is desperate for starting pitching.
He’ll show up somewhere that is desperate for starting pitching.
Hard to believe Kevin Correia was an All-Star once. In fact, I own a Kevin Correia All-Star jersey!
I feel like this has the Cubs written all over it if he is for working out of the pen