DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers announced Thursday that veteran starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey has been released as the team tries to trim its roster down to 25 players by the end of the spring.
Pelfrey was signed to a puzzling two-year, $16 million contract before the 2016 season despite a group of promising young starters making their way through the Tigers' minor-league system.
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With Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd cracking the starting rotation out of spring training, there's no room for the 33-year-old pitcher.
The Tigers will pay Pelfrey $8 million this season for the second half of his deal.
In one season with Detroit, Pelfrey allowed 67 earned runs in 119 innings, striking out only 56 batters while walking 46. Opponents hit .332 against Pelfrey with an OPS of .877.
The Tigers also cut reliever Mark Lowe midway through his two-year deal. Lowe will receive $5.5 million from the Tigers despite not being on the roster.
Detroit will begin the regular season Monday in Chicago against the White Sox.