THURSDAY: The Padres announced that Bartlett cleared unconditional release waivers and is now a free agent.
MONDAY: The Padres have requested unconditional release waivers for Jason Bartlett, the team announced via press release.
The Padres acquired Bartlett from the Rays back in December of 2010 in exchange for Cole Figueroa, Adam Russell, Cesar Ramos and Brandon Gomes. Later that offseason, the team avoided arbitration with the shortstop by agreeing to a two-year contract worth a guaranteed $11MM with a vesting option for 2013. The $5.5MM option for 2013 will not vest, as Bartlett's 98 plate appearances this season fall well short of the required 432. He'll instead be paid a $1.5MM buyout.
The 32-year-old batted just .133/.240/.193 in those 98 plate appearances, and overall batted only .231/.299/.292 in 168 games as a Padre. He has been on the disabled list since May 17 with a right knee strain. Following the trade of Ernesto Frieri for Alexi Amarista earlier this season, it became apparent that Bartlett no longer factored into the team's plans.
Bartlett was originally drafted by the Padres in the 13th round of the 2001 draft but made his big league debut with the Twins after being swapped for Brian Buchanan. Prior to being re-acquired by the Padres, Bartlett was a career .281/.345/.385 hitter in 2,801 career plate appearances.
Good times.
I thought this happened a long time ago. I figured he retired… hmm learn something new every day
He was injured almost all season.
Yeah, he got “injured” while avoiding his $11m vesting option…lol.
Are you seriously implying that the Padres DLed Bartlett without reason to prevent his option (which is $5.5M, not $11M…) from vesting?
Do you have any idea what kind of legal nightmare they’d be in? Bartlett would file a grievance faster than they could blink, and he’d win.
If they wanted to avoid the option from vesting they could’ve just DFA’ed him back in May. They obviously had hopes he could get over the injury, and he’s since been passed by other players. Their hopes of trading him are gone, so now they’re simply eating the rest of the contract.
But your comment is completely ludicrous.
Wow, a bit emotionally involved in this one eh? How about think again. If the Padres waived him earlier he would not have cleared waivers and had no trade value, forcing a release. The Padres would be on the hook for his salary. Any team could pick him up for nothing at the Padres expense. Looks to me like the Padres held on to him for insurance due to being so thin at short. 90 days for a knee strain? Besides, we are talking about Jason Bartlett… but I digress, if thats what you want to invest your emotional fortitude on go right ahead.
If the Padres waived him at any point this season, he’d have cleared waivers. He’s still going to be released and they’re still on the hook for his salary, so I’m not sure what your point is.
Bartlett would be filing a major grievance if he were forced to stay on the DL when healthy, and it would be public. The guy was, and still is hurt. They’re not that thin at short with Amarista and Cabrera both capable of handling the position.
not surprised. gl to him. him and O-dog shouldn’t even started for the team this year at all.
If I were The SF Giants I would give Shortstop Jason Bartlett a chance to be a back-up to Brandon Crawford. He is a veteran who brings fire to a ballclub.
What sort of fire does a guy who can’t hit and is hurt bring to a club?
maybe he could do some steroids and we can find out
Lol
Funny!
I could only hope he goes to the giants to stink up the joint… when I look at that trade and see all the pieces that we gave up for him, it makes me shake my head. Although I will admit, I was excited when we picked him up. But I thought we only gave up Ramos and Russell.
Eh, they didn’t give up that much to get him. Russell isn’t with Tampa anymore, Gomes is a middle reliever who can’t get outs at the MLB level, and Figueroa doesn’t hit enough in AAA to every make an impact in the majors. At the end of the day they traded a situational left-handed reliever for a washed-up SS. No big deal. Gomes could still become a starter at some point, but probably doesn’t profile as more than a 5th starter if he does. They gave up quantity, but there wasn’t much quality.
Gomes has actually been pretty good in triple AAA this year. He will join the Rays when the rosters expand in September and start in the bullpen next year. Ramos is being stretched out as a starter in Triple AAA and actually has performed well after some mechanics changes. He pitched well for the Rays when he was up there for something like a 1.46 ERA but the Rays are too deep in the bullpen next year. Figueroa will be given a shot for the big league club next year as the Rays love their versatile players who can defend. Russell was horrible. But overall you are right nothing too big here for both teams.
Scutaro >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bartlett
It’s sad when I’d rather have Clint Barmes than him, but I would take him every time over Bartlett who can’t play D and only had 1.5 years of good hitting.
Jason Bartlett has been injurged most of this year and if he has a change of scenary can be a good guy to put in for defense and has hit well when he was with Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins. Bartlett is a Bruce Bochy type of Player.
They guy is a carrer .300+ hitter vs LHP. I could see him being picked up for a platoon situation at 2B somewhere. Cardinals could be an option ( I know I say that about everybody that gets released). Ryan Jackson has no bat to speak of, and if Jason were to platoon at 2B with Skip Schumaker, the Cards would have a .300 batter at 2B in the lineup every night.
career**
He can come bat 9th for our NABA world series team.
Jason Bartlett is a Bay Area Guy and I think that he could be a back-up guy at shortstop.
Bartlett was not a “bad guy”, he just sucked (big time) while on the Padres. Maybe he’ll pull a Ryan Ludwick or Jim Edmonds and have a good season or two on another team. By the way, as soon as the Padres dumped Bartlett and O-Dog, their season turned around.