MINNEAPOLIS — Right-hander Jason Marquis is officially a free agent after clearing release waivers, Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Monday.
Marquis — who signed with Minnesota for a one-year, $3 million deal this offseason — was 2-4 with an 8.47 ERA in seven starts for the Twins this season. After his latest outing May 20 in Milwaukee, in which he gave up eight runs on eight hits in just 1-2/3 innings, the Twins designated him for release or assignment.
Ryan shot down the notion that the Twins might bring Marquis back to pitch at Triple-A Rochester.
"I think we're going to move on," Ryan said. "I suspect that probably would be a mutually feeling. He doesn't need to pitch at Triple-A. I think it's fair to assume he's beyond that point."
The Twins became the seventh team for the 33-year-old Marquis in 13 seasons. Minnesota was hoping the veteran right-hander could help boost its rotation in 2012, but that never happened. He gave up five runs or more in four of his seven starts and failed to last longer than five innings in four outings.
Including Marquis, the Twins have already designated six players for assignment this season, including infielders Luke Hughes and Sean Burroughs, outfielders Clete Thomas and Erik Komatsu and pitcher Matt Maloney. Komatsu was the latest to be designated when the Twins called up pitcher Jeff Manship on Sunday.
"You only designate guys because you have to have a quick turnaround," Ryan said. "A lot of times you'll see clubs that end up sending people out, but they run them through waivers first. … Sometimes you don't have time to do that. That's why you designate a guy."
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