:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63270888/usa_today_12211382.0.jpg)
With about a week until Opening Day, the Brewers’ Opening Day roster is starting to take shape. In addition to some of the final minor league cuts, the team announced today that comeback candidate Josh Tomlin is being released.
Non-roster RHP Josh Tomlin has been released.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) March 20, 2019
The 34-year-old made 5 appearances for the Brewers this spring, including 3 starts. He allowed 9 runs (8 earned) on 12 hits -- 3 of them home runs -- in 15 innings, while striking out 9 and walking 2.
In that small sample, he did a good enough job of keeping runners off-base -- his WHIP was under 1 at 0.93 -- but the three homers in 15 innings were mildly concerning, considering he gave up 25 home runs last year.
As the spring went on, it became pretty clear there wouldn’t be a spot for him in the Brewers’ group of pitchers at the major league level (or at least not right away). The release gives a veteran a chance to catch on somewhere else with a week before the season starts. But as Adam McCalvy and Robert Murray are reporting, this may not be goodbye forever, depending on what opportunities are out there for him.
Doesn’t mean he’s gone for good. Tomlin will look for a better situation with another team. If he doesn’t find one, Brewers could always sign him back for Triple-A depth. https://t.co/ADC8V1vAuU
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 20, 2019
Josh Tomlin made it “very clear” to the #Brewers that if there wasn’t another big-league opportunity available, he would be interested in coming back to pitch in Triple-A, manager Craig Counsell said.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) March 20, 2019
Tomlin would be a decent veteran option to stash in Triple-A, even if there are a few other (younger) guys who likely should get an opportunity to step in as a stopgap if there were an injury. Still, it seems likely that Tomlin would be able to find somewhere with a more clear path to the majors, even if it isn’t with a contending team.
Statistics courtesy of MLB.com