LOS ANGELES – The end of Alex Guerrero's career as a Los Angeles Dodger was made official on Wednesday after the team announced they had officially released the Cuban infielder.
Today's news comes as no surprise as the wheels were put in motion on May 31st when the team announced that Guerrero had been designated for assignment after his 20-day minor league rehab assignment was complete.
Guerrero signed a four-year $28 million contract with the Dodgers in October of 2013, and is still owed at least $8 million after the team released him on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old former shortstop struggled defensively in the big leagues, but hit 11 home runs in 106 games with the team last season.
He started the 2016 season on the disabled list with a knee injury suffered in Spring Training, but when he batted a paltry .136 in 16 games in the minor leagues, the Dodgers made the decision to cut their losses with the Cuban slugger.
For fans that wonder why Guerrero could not simply be sent down to the minor leagues to work on his hitting and defense, the player had a clause in his contract that stated after 2014, he could not be sent down to the minors without his prior consent.
Guerrero would not agree to be sent down in order to remain with the team, forcing the team to release him where he is now a free agent and can sign with any team he likes.
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The Dodgers still owe $3.2 million on his salary in 2016 and another $5 million in 2017, making it nearly impossible to trade the relatively ineffective player.
Thankfully, once Guerrero finds a new team to finish the 2017 season with, any salary he receives—most likely the MLB minimum—will offset what the Dodgers owe him.
