Tampa Bay Rays Release Former Houston Astros Starter

The Houston Astros could be looking for more starting pitching and one of their former starters is now on the free agent market.

A former Houston Astros starting pitcher is hitting free agency at a time when the Astros could use a veteran starter.

The Tampa Bay Rays released Jake Odorizzi from their Triple-A affiliate in Durham on Thursday after he made two starts for the organization, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Odorizzi missed all of the 2023 season when he had an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right shoulder.

At the time he was with the Texas Rangers, and it was hoped he would contribute to their rotation. He spent the entire season on the Rangers’ injured list as the franchise won its first World Series.

After the season the Rangers allowed Odorizzi to hit free agency and he signed a minor-league deal with the Rays in March.

With Durham he went 0-2 with an 11.81 ERA as he threw 5 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs. He struck out two and walked five. Odorizzi is reportedly looking for a landing spot to continue a comeback.

He signed with the Astros as a free agent in March of 2021 for two years and $23.5 million, with a player option in 2023. In 2021 he went 6-7 with a 4.21 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) with 91 strikeouts and 34 walks.

In 2022 he missed part of the season due to injury and was traded to Atlanta on Aug. 2 for reliever Will Smith. The Astros still gave Odorizzi a World Series ring.  

With Atlanta, Odorizzi triggered his player option after the end of the 2022 season and the Braves traded him to Texas for pitcher Kolby Allard and picked up most of the remainder of Odorizzi’s contract as part of the trade.

The Astros have five starting pitchers on their injured list — Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr.

Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1st round of the 2008 MLB Draft, Odorizzi has 10 years of MLB experience since his debut in 2012 with the Kansas City Royals. He followed that with stints with Tampa Bay and Minnesota.

He made his only All-Star Game appearance in 2019 with Minnesota, where he had a career-high 15 wins. He’s 74-69 for his career with a 3.99 ERA.

Before his shoulder surgery he proved to be durable, making 30 or more starts in four different seasons.