Pirates release Morris
The Pirates gave up on their struggling veteran, Matt Morris, releasing him after he dropped to 0-4 last night with a loss to the Phillies.
Morris had a 9.67 ERA through 22.1 innings, leaving the Pirates with no other choice but to let him go.
The Pirates will be on the hook for the remainder of Morris’s contract – $10.03 million for 2008, plus $1 million buyout for the 2009 season – because they released him. Any other team can take a chance on Morris for major league minimum, now.
The Pirates called up John Van Benschoten to take Morris’s place. Van Benschoten will work out of the bullpen and will likely be sent back down on Thursday when the team will call up Phil Dumatrait to take Morris’s spot in the rotation.
Filed under: John Van Benschoten, Matt Morris, Phil Dumatrait, Pittsburgh Pirates