Rockies Release Former Cy Young Candidate

It was only three years ago that he finished fourth in the balloting for the National League Cy Young Award. But times have certainly changed for former San Diego Padres ace Dinelson Lamet. 

The Colorado Rockies have released him, after an untenable 11.57 ERA this season (Coors Field or no Coors Field) in 16 appearances with a 2.34 WHIP. 

The Rockies are now on the hook for the rest of his $5M, a number landed on in arbitration this spring. 

Lamet looked like a keeper for the Pads back in the shortened 2020 season, when he posted a 2.09 ERA along with a sizzling 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings. But while he's been able to maintain strikeout numbers like that over the past 2+ seasons, his control has completely gone missing, as his walks have skyrocketed each year, to the point where he was issuing 7.7 free passes per nine this year in Colorado.

The 30-year-old will now be a free agent, available on the market for any team to give him another shot. For what it's worth, his 10.2 innings in Triple-A this season could serve as a reminder of what Lamet can be, as he struck out 11 against just one walk, and allowed just one run and six hits for a 0.84 ERA and 0.66 WHIP. 

Photo: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports