Garland released by Mariners

Peoria, AZ – The Seattle Mariners released veteran pitcher Jon Garland on Saturday.

Signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, Garland was told on Friday that he wouldn't be among the five starters when the season began. He then had 24 hours to decide if he wanted to stay and opted to leave.

Garland, 33, has not played at the major-league level since 2011, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went 1-5 with a 4.33 earned run average in nine starts before a shoulder injury ended his season.

The 6-foot-6 pitcher agreed to a minor-league contract with the Indians last year but never took his physical, canceling the deal.

Garland had back-to-back 18-win seasons in 2005 and 2006 with the White Sox and earned an All-Star berth in 2005.

In 353 career games with the White Sox (2000-07), Angels (2008), Diamondbacks (2009), Dodgers (2009, 2011), and Padres (2010), Garland has a 132-119 record with a 4.32 ERA and 1,124 strikeouts.

The team also released infielder Mike Jacobs on Saturday. He had also signed a deal in the offseason, and over seven seasons in the majors he is a .253 batter with 100 home runs and 312 RBI in 569 games with the Mets, Marlins, Royals and Diamondbacks.