The Pittsburgh Pirates have declined their $3.25 million team option for left-hander Jarlín García, making him a free agent. The decision comes after the Pirates acquired García from the Washington Nationals in July 2019.
García, 25, had a 3.95 ERA in 37 appearances for the Pirates over the past two seasons. He was primarily used as a reliever, but he also made one start in 2020. García had a career-high strikeout rate of 10.7 K/9 in 2020, but his walk rate was also high at 4.7 BB/9.
The Pirates’ decision to decline García’s option is likely due to his lack of consistency and his high walk rate. The team may have felt that the $3.25 million was too much for a pitcher who has not been able to consistently perform at a high level.
García will now enter free agency and will likely be looking for a team that can offer him a better opportunity to prove himself. He has shown flashes of potential in the past, and he could be a valuable addition to a team looking for bullpen help.
It remains to be seen where García will end up, but the Pirates have made it clear that they are not interested in bringing him back. It will be interesting to see how the left-hander fares in free agency and what team he ends up signing with.
