Rockies release veteran southpaw

The Rockies have released veteran reliever Fernando Abad, according to his transaction page on MiLB.com. This is the second time he has been released by Colorado this season.

Since making his debut in 2010, Abad has pitched for the Houston Astros, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles and Rockies. From 2013-17, he was one of the more reliable middle relievers in the game, pitching to a 3.13 ERA and 3.75 SIERA in 275 contests. Unfortunately, things began to go downhill in 2018. He sat out the season after being given an 80-game suspension for failing a PED test, and while he was back in 2019, he never quite returned to form. From 2019-21, he posted a 4.99 ERA and 4.66 SIERA in 37 games.

The southpaw seemed to have turned things around at the start of the 2023 season. Pitching for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes on a minor-league deal, he put up a 1.69 ERA in his first 13 games, striking out 20 and walking only two. He earned a promotion to the big league club in May, but there he struggled in three appearances. His turnaround was short-lived, and he was designated for assignment less than a week after his promotion.

Abad signed another minor-league deal with the Rockies shortly thereafter and returned to play for the Isotopes in June. He looked every bit as good as before, striking out eight batters in eight games with a 0.93 ERA. The Rockies promoted him again, yet still he struggled to find a role in the major leagues. He was designated for assignment in mid-July, and this time around, he failed to recapture his magic at Triple-A. In 4 2/3 innings of work, he gave up nine runs on ten hits, ultimately prompting his release.

As a free agent, Abad has the opportunity to sign with a new club, perhaps before the September 1 deadline for postseason eligibility. While he has struggled to stick in the majors for the past few years, he could provide an option for a team in need of left-handed depth.