Padres release Casey Janssen

The San Diego Padres granted Casey Janssen’s request by releasing him last week.

The 34-year old Janssen was signed on February 20 as a spring training invite. He was competing for a roster spot with fellow relievers Kevin Quackenbush, Fernando Rodney, Nick Vincent and Carlos Villanueva. Vincent was also traded this week.

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In seven games this spring, he had a 5.14 ERA in seven innings pitched. He also struck out five batters.

Manager Andy Green spoke with Janssen before his release as reported by the San Diego Union Tribune:

“It was extremely professional,” Green said. “Casey did everything that was asked of him, and it just came down to a matter of opportunity and wanting to be honest and forthright with him. He requested his release after the conversation.

“With (Brandon) Maurer going back to the bullpen, the emergence of Thornton and a lot of these young arms, (Janssen) was getting further and further behind the eight-ball. And out of respect to someone like himself who’s done so much in the game and been so successful, rather than hold him to his last day of his (opt-out) clause, we granted him his release.” (San Diego Union Tribune)

Janssen was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth round of the 2004 draft out of UCLA. He made his major league debut in April 2006 and stayed with the Blue Jays before leaving as a free agent after the 2014 season. From 2012-2014, Janssen saved 81 games and had a 2.94 ERA.

He spent this past season with the Washington Nationals. In 48 appearances, he went 2-5 with a 4.95 ERA.

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Janssen was born in Orange, California and graduated from Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley, California before playing collegiately at UCLA.

For his career, he is 31-29 with a 3.63 ERA and 90 saves in 437 games. Could we have possibly seen the last of him? If so, he has had a nice career and deserves the best in his future endeavors.