Garcia is expected to retire, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Garcia, who spent time with five different teams over the past two seasons after spending the first eight years of his career with the Cardinals, will call it quits after struggling to a career-worst 5.82 ERA across 82 innings in 2018 (with the Blue Jays and Cubs). All in all, the 32-year-old posted a respectable 3.85 ERA across 10 major-league seasons (1,135 innings).
Garcia struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning and recorded a hold in a 3-2 win over the Reds on Friday.
With the Cubs dealing with injuries to relievers Brandon Morrow and now Pedro Strop, who strained his hamstring Thursday, Garcia looks like he could take on a more significant role in Chicago's bullpen. While the veteran righty has a subpar 6.19 ERA this season, he had a more respectable 4.41 ERA as a starter in 2017, and Cubs manager Joe Maddon likely values his experience. Garcia doesn't figure to be in the mix for saves with Morrow and Strop out, but he could grab a few more holds the rest of the way.
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Cubs' Jaime Garcia: Draws start Saturday
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Garcia is slated to start the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against Washington, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
Garcia was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, and he's set to make his Cubs debut after accruing a 5.93 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 69 strikeouts through 74.1 innings as a member of the Blue Jays this season. Cole Hamels will get the nod for the second game of the twin bill.
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Cubs' Jaime Garcia: Struggles in Cubs debut
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Garcia (3-7) recorded just one out and allowed three runs to take the loss in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Nationals. He gave up a hit and three walks.
Garcia was making his Cubs debut after getting called up from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, and it was an outing to forget. He walked the bases loaded, then gave up a one-out, two-run single to Juan Soto before getting the early hook. The veteran will likely shift to the bullpen moving forward but could get another start if the need arises.
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Cubs' Jaime Garcia: Contract purchased from minors Tuesday
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Garcia had his contract purchased from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Garcia didn't make an appearance for Triple-A Iowa after signing a minor-league deal with Chicago at the end of August, but the Cubs were apparently impressed enough with a simulated game he threw Tuesday to add him to their roster for the stretch run. The veteran left-hander, who owns a 5.93 ERA across 74.1 big-league innings this season, figures to work in a long-relief role down the stretch.
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Cubs' Jaime Garcia: Picked up by Cubs
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Garcia signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Garcia was released by the Blue Jays on Thursday, but he didn't have to spend a long time unemployed. Garcia will make some minor-league relief appearances over the weekend as an audition for a major-league bullpen role. He'll have to pitch better than he did for the Blue Jays if he's to earn a spot in Chicago, as he posted an ugly 5.93 ERA in 74.1 innings for the Canadian club prior to his release.
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Jaime Garcia: Released by Toronto
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Garcia was cut loose by the Blue Jays on Thursday, Brandon Warne of Zone Coverage reports.
Garcia was designated for assignment by Toronto last weekend and will look to latch on with a new organization in the near future following his release. He appeared in 25 games (13 starts) for the Blue Jays in 2018, logging a 5.93 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with a 1.8 K/BB. He still has the ability to serve out of the back-end of a major-league rotation but Garcia just hasn't been reliable this year, and a move to the bullpen in mid-July makes it unlikely that he will be stretched out as a starter again this year, even if he's able to find a new home.
Blue Jays' Jaime Garcia: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Garcia was designated for assignment Saturday.
Garcia was the casualty necessary in order for the Blue Jays' to reinstate Aaron Sanchez (finger) from the 60-day disabled list. The veteran lefty hasn't been what the Blue Jays hoped for when they signed him in the offseason. He posted a 6.16 ERA in 13 starts, causing him to be moved to the bullpen in July. He hasn't been good enough there to be worth keeping around, recording a 4.85 ERA in 13 relief innings. Garcia has a track record of being an effective pitcher in the past, which could cause some team to take a chance on him, but he hasn't posted an ERA below 4.41 since 2015, so it's unlikely he'll be a valuable fantasy asset down the stretch.
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Blue Jays' Jaime Garcia: Moved to bullpen
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Garcia, who was activated from the 10-day disabled list Sunday and pitched in relief that day in the Blue Jays' 5-2 loss to the Red Sox, is slated to work out of the bullpen after the All-Star break, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports. "He'll pitch out of the 'pen," manager John Gibbons said. "He's all for it. He hasn't thrown a lot since he went on the DL. But really with him, same as a starter, when he throws it over, he's tough."
Garcia struggled in his first appearance out of the bullpen since October, issuing three walks and retiring only two of the five hitters he faced. The Blue Jays currently only have four starters on the active roster (J.A. Happ, Marcus Stroman, Marco Estrada and Sam Gaviglio), but they intend to recall Ryan Borucki from Triple-A Buffalo when a fifth starter is needed July 24 against the Twins. Garcia was dropped from the rotation after reaching the sixth inning just three times in 13 starts, posting a 6.16 ERA in those outings.
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Blue Jays' Jaime Garcia: Returns from disabled list
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Garcia (shoulder) was activated off the 10-day disabled list Sunday, Mike Wilner of Sportsnet 590 The Fan reports.
Garcia made his only rehab start Thursday since landing on the disabled list in late June with a tender shoulder and seemed on track for a return after the All-Star break, but instead he will join the Toronto bullpen for the first half's finale. Considering he threw only 15 pitches in the rehab appearance, the 32-year-old still has some work to do if he is to be available as a starter following the break.
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Blue Jays' Jaime Garcia: Rehab start Thursday
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Garcia (shoulder) will make a rehab start with High-A Dunedin on Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
This will be his first rehab start since landing on the disabled list in late June with a tender shoulder, but he has been playing catch off flat ground recently. Garcia is on track to return shortly after the All-Star break.
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Blue Jays' Jaime Garcia: Resumes playing catch
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Garcia (shoulder) resumed throwing off flat ground this week, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Garcia has yet to progress to mound work and likely won't have a defined timeline for a return until he does so. With the All-Star break about a week and a half away, it seems likely that the Blue Jays will take things slowly with the lefty rather than rushing him back from the 10-day disabled list before the first half concludes. Sam Gaviglio will likely continue to stick in the rotation for the duration of Garcia's absence.
Garcia was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a tender shoulder Saturday, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports.
Garcia's poor performance thus far this season -- including a 6.16 ERA in 13 starts -- reportedly left his rotation spot in jeopardy. He'll end up heading to the disabled list rather than to the bullpen, though it's possible he ends up in the pen once he recovers. Sam Gaviglio will take his spot in the rotation, while Tim Mayza was recalled to take his spot on the roster.
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Blue Jays' Jaime Garcia: Rotation spot in limbo
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Garcia may be moved to the bullpen instead of starting Sunday's game against the Angels, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Manager John Gibbons said Thursday he's uncertain about his starter for Sunday, stating that Sam Gaviglio could get the nod over Garcia, who was shelled for five runs in three innings in his last start against the Braves. Garcia owns a 6.16 ERA to go with a 1.61 WHIP over a 13-start sample this season, so a move to the bullpen would not be overly surprising. His status for Sunday's start will be sorted out in the coming days.
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Blue Jays' Jaime Garcia: Chased early Tuesday
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Garcia (2-6) allowed five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over three-plus innings in Tuesday's loss to the Braves.
Garcia dug his team into an early deficit when Johan Camargo tagged the veteran for a grand slam in the second inning. Garcia then opened the fourth inning by serving up a solo homer to Charlie Culberson followed by back-to-back singles before being lifted from the contest with no outs in the frame. Reliever Danny Barnes was able to stop the bleeding in the fourth, but the five earned runs inflated Garcia's ERA to a disastrous 6.16 mark on the year. He'll take on the Angels on Sunday.
