The Colorado Rockies released right-handed pitcher Jhoulys Chacin on Sunday.
The release is a result of the Rockies having a lot of starting candidates for pitching and Chacin has struggled this spring. Chacin was set to make $5.5 million this year, but that wasn’t guaranteed money, and he will get $1,352,459 in termination pay, according to the Associated Press. The Rockies will save about $4.15 million by paying Chacin termination pay.
"I'm surprised," Chacin said. "I was kind of 50-50. I haven't been pitching well. I haven't been doing what I wanted to do. But I didn't expect it. Now I have a chance to find something else."
Chacin signed with the Rockies in 2004 as an international free agent. He made his major league debut in 2009. Last year he was 1-7 with a 5.40 ERA. In four appearances this spring he walked four, struck out five and had a 6.52 ERA. Chacin was 38-48 with a 3.78 ERA in six seasons with the Rockies, according to the Denver Post. He would have been a candidate to replace Jorge De La Rosa, who’s out with a groin injury, in the Rockies home opener.
David Hale, Jon Grey, Eddie Butler, and Christian Bergman will now compete for the open spot in the Rockies rotation.