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Veteran righty Aaron Cook has been released today, according to this tweet from the team:
Prior to today's 1:05 game, the #Phils have released RHP Aaron Cook.
— Phillies (@Phillies) March 26, 2013
Cook signed a minor league contract in January with an invitation to spring training. He's not very good, having assembled the following work of art this spring: 18.2 innings, 12 hits, five strikeouts against four walks.
He hasn't posted a FIP below 4.50 since 2008, when he was an All-Star who gave up more runs (102) than strikeouts (96). In his 11 year career (including ten with the Colorado Rockies), he's pitched 1406.1 innings, with a total of 578 strikeouts and 429 walks. That's really, really bad. Like, absurdly bad. By compassion, Joe Blanton, who has recorded 1434.2 innings in nine seasons, has 978 strikeouts against 378 walks.
This morning also represented, entirely coincidentally, the deadline for minor league free agents with more than six years' Major League experience to be on the 25-man roster or paid $100,000. Having been released, Cook no longer qualifies for that bonus.
According to Baseball-Reference, the right-handed Cook's number one comp is Jamie Moyer.