The Jason Marquis experiment in Minnesota lasted just seven starts.
The Twins announced Tuesday that they designated the veteran pitcher for release or assignment and will call up right-hander Cole DeVries from Triple-A Rochester to take Marquis' spot on the 25-man roster.
Marquis, a 33-year-old with 106 career wins in 13 seasons, signed a one-year, $3 million contract in the offseason after spending last year with Washington and Arizona. But in seven starts with the Twins, Marquis was 2-4 with an 8.47 ERA. The 13-year veteran allowed 14 walks and 52 hits in 34 innings while striking out just 12.
His latest start Sunday in Milwaukee was the final straw, as he gave up eight runs on eight hits — including two home runs — in just 1 2/3 innings. After an off day Monday, the Twins on Tuesday made the move to let Marquis go.
"We gave him every opportunity. It just wasn't working out," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "I don't like to do that. It's not just the economical decision, but also any time you get a veteran, you like to give him every opportunity to succeed and straighten things out. But it just wasn't happening, so we were pretty much forced into making a move."
DeVries, 27, will be making his major league debut when he takes the mound for the Twins on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox. An Eden Prairie, Minn., native, he played college baseball at the University of Minnesota.
In eight starts this season with the Red Wings, DeVries was 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA. He struck out 37 batters and walked just seven in 46 2/3 innings. He will join the Twins in Chicago in time for Tuesday night's game.
DeVries' latest start in Rochester was perhaps his strongest. He pitched eight innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out six and not issuing a walk to pick up the victory.
"He throws strikes. He's got a pretty good assortment of pitches," Ryan said of DeVries. "He can spin the ball. He's got a changeup. He's got enough velocity. He's not a power guy. He has to locate. … He's given them a chance to win about every start he's made out there, even though his record's not indicative."
DeVries will become the ninth pitcher to start a game for the Twins this season. Among those pitchers, DeVries will be the third who wasn't on the Twins' Opening Day roster. Scott Diamond and P.J. Walters also began the year in Triple-A but have since made several starts each for Minnesota.
Diamond and Walters have actually given the Twins' rotation a much-needed boost since being elevated to the majors. Diamond is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA in three starts, including back-to-back scoreless seven-inning starts to begin the year. Walters is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in two starts.
The rotation is nothing like Minnesota envisioned in spring training. Scott Baker is out for the year after having Tommy John surgery. Francisco Liriano is in the bullpen after early season struggles. Nick Blackburn is on the disabled list with a strained quad and now Marquis has been designated for assignment, meaning only Carl Pavano remains from what the Twins thought would be their five-man rotation.
Baker, who was perhaps the Twins' best pitcher in 2011, didn't make a single start this year. He began having issues with his elbow in spring training and the team announced in early April that he would have season-ending elbow surgery. That surgery ended up being Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.
Liriano was 0-5 with a 9.45 ERA in six starts. He walked 19 batters and struck out 21 in 26 2/3 innings. His longest start was just 5 1/3 innings May 1 against the Los Angeles Angels. As Liriano was unable to get on track, Minnesota moved him to the bullpen, where he has pitched in three games.
Right-hander Liam Hendriks was inserted into the rotation to take Baker's place, but he was sent down to Rochester after beginning the year 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts.
Nobody anticipated the Twins having a rotation of Pavano, Blackburn, Diamond, Walters and DeVries in late May, but that's where Minnesota is at now.
"It happens. You have to adjust," Ryan said. "It's not unusual in this business that you've got to make some different moves and roster management. It's all a part of major league operation. I certainly don't like to do it this way. I'd like to have some continuity and so forth, but it wasn't happening so we had to make some moves."
Follow Tyler Mason on Twitter.
