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Dodgers pass on Garland's 2010 option
Righty becomes free agent after $10 million not picked up
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
11/05/09 12:01 PM EST
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers declined the $10 million 2010 mutual option for right-handed pitcher Jon Garland, who can become a free agent.Garland is entitled to receive a $2.5 million buyout, which will be paid by the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the terms of the trade that sent Garland to the Dodgers for infielder Tony Abreu on Aug. 31.
The 30-year-old Garland was 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA in six Dodgers starts, was a long reliever who did not pitch in the National League Division Series against the Cardinals and was left off the roster for the NL Championship Series against Philadelphia.
On the season, Garland went 11-13 with a 4.01 ERA with 204 innings pitched, the fifth time Garland has pitched at least 200 innings in a season. Should Garland rank as a Type-A free agent, the Dodgers cannot offer him salary arbitration and will not be entitled to compensation as specified by the terms of the contract he signed last winter with Arizona.
Garland is the second pitcher whose option was not exercised by the Dodgers in recent weeks, joining left-handed reliever Will Ohman, who also will be a free agent.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
