The Diamondbacks have released right-hander Josh Collmenter, reports FanRag Sports’ Jack Magruder (Twitter link). Collmenter had been in limbo since the Diamondbacks designated him for assignment July 30, but he’s now free to search for another opportunity elsewhere.
Collmenter picked up 200 appearances and 75 starts with Arizona, which selected him in the 15th round of the 2007 draft, and compiled a terrific ERA (3.54) to go with 6.28 K/9 against 2.14 BB/9 in 659 1/3 innings. He has also logged two seasons, 2011 and 2014, with at least 154 1/3 innings and a sub-3.50 ERA. Collmenter began 2015 as the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day starter before eventually shifting to a bullpen role, and he posted a solid 3.79 ERA across 121 frames and somewhat offset a below-average K/9 (4.69) with a 1.79 BB/9. The 30-year-old hasn’t been nearly as successful at preventing runs (4.84 ERA) or limiting walks (4.43 BB/9) in 22 1/3 innings this season, though he has generated ground balls at a 47.7 percent rate – a marked increase over his career 36 percent average.
Collmenter, who was on a $1.85MM club option with Arizona this year, could catch on with a different team for a prorated portion of the league minimum.
Decent Lincecum replacement.
Padres should get him and oberholtzer
I agree, getting Clemens out of the rotation would be a plus. Maybe Friedrich would get replaced too.
Andy Green coached him the last couple years in Arizona & have heard things about him being a good clubhouse/mentor type guy. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Padres took a flier on him, allowed him to get healthy & hope he bounces back to his old form.
It makes absolutely no sense that, durung a season in which they are desparate to appease an angry fan base that they cut ties with a fan favorite that was actually performing close to league average while holding on to Dominic Lepne who has not been good for 2 years now. Neither one is a part of the future of the team, they could at least keep the one that everybody in Arizona likes.
At the very least, he brings a positive clubhouse presence and some levity to an otherwise embarrassing season.
Arizona is making a strong run at the top pick in the draft. 8-25 in the last month +. The Braves stranglehold on the top pick seemed insurmountable. Dave Stewart is already salivating over the prospect of trading the 2017 #1/2 pick in a few years to shed player salary of his FA/trade gaffes. Collmenter’s shoulder still doesn’t look healthy to my eyes, pitching back to back days was a problem for him this season. Maybe only 22 IP and an early end to his season will help what ails his shoulder for next season.
Does Arizona’s FO making decisions that you don’t understand surprise you at all?
Go get Collyer then flip next year!
If he has such good numbers why is he being released? Doesn’t really make sense
4.84 ERA this season and he has a lot of shoulder issues. He can’t throw on back to back days anymore and he doesn’t have the durability to be a starter. For a team not in contention, he has next to no worth on the roster outside of being a clubhouse personality.
I like the CMU product and everything but Josh kind of took a step back this year and that’s not what the Diamondbacks wanted, so they just released him
Despite Collmenter’s struggles, he was still one of the more reliable arms in the bullpen. He’s gone at the end of the season regardless. Meanwhile, he’s a fan and clubhouse favorite. This team is desparate for anything to keep the fans happy. Giving them a chance to at least wish him farewell would have made more sense.
It would have cost them nothing at all to do so. Meanwhile, they continue to run Dominic Leone out as a human white flag, and he hasn’t even been merginally respectable in 2 years now. Leone could just as easily have been sent out and the team might have actually become better by the subtraction.