Germán

Márquez

The 31-year-old righty was released by the Padres last weekend after posting a 5.26 ERA, and a 37/24 K/BB ratio over 53 innings of work. He’ll add rotation depth for the Twins.

Márquez was DFA’d on Wednesday after amassing a 5.26 ERA and a 37/24 K/BB in 53 innings for the Padres.

Márquez’s departure clears a spot on San Diego’s roster for trade deadline acquisition Robbie Ray. The 31-year-old was bumped from the rotation in late July and was blasted for four runs during his lone inning of work against the Diamondbacks earlier this week. He finishes with a lackluster 5.26 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 37/24 K/BB ratio across 53 innings of work. There’s a chance another organization out there is willing to roll the dice, but it’s unlikely to be a contending club.

The thinking was that Márquez would follow opener Bradgley Rodriguez tonight, but the Padres actually used Yuki Matsui for three innings first. Márquez came in to start the fourth and then went the rest of the way, throwing 70 pitches and allowing just one hit. It was his fifth career relief appearance; he had three as a rookie in 2016 and one earlier this month. He’ll likely work again Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, though it’s unclear if he’ll start.

In desperation-mode, the Padres didn’t seem willing to give Márquez a long leash in this one. There was no indication that he was injured, but was yanked after striking out Heriberto Hernández to start the third inning. A handful of left-handed hitters were due up next, so maybe that was all part of the plate. They limited him to 59 pitches in his last outing as well and this seems like it will be the norm moving forward. The left-handed Kyle Hart came in for two innings afterwards as the piggy-back option.

It was hardly his fault, as Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts messed up on consecutive groundballs, but Márquez left with the bases loaded and none out in the fourth, only for Yuki Matsui to come in and get a strikeout and a double play afterwards. Márquez allowed five hits, walked two and struck out two before being lifted. He’s held it together with a 4.20 ERA in four starts this month, but he’s completed five innings just once and has an ugly 11/10 K/BB in 15 innings. He doesn’t seem like a lock to get a start next weekend against the Marlins.

The runs came on a 95.3-mph homer from Nathan Lukes and a 98.4-mph homer from Ernie Clement, so Márquez didn’t have a lot of luck there. He showed improved velocity for the second straight start, again averaging 95.8 mph with his fastball. He was also at 95.0 mph in his return from the injured list on July 2. He averaged 94.3 mph in his first six starts before missing two months with forearm inflammation. The extra velocity doesn’t figure to make him fantasy relevant, but it should make him more viable for the Padres.

Márquez loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning and somehow came out of it with just one run allowed on a walk. He then settled in nicely, scattering three more baserunners over four scoreless innings, ending his day after five with four strikeouts. The 31-year-old right-hander holds a 5.02 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and a 24/18 K/BB ratio across 37 2/3 innings. His next turn in the rotation is scheduled to come Sunday against the Blue Jays in San Diego.

Márquez has been working out of the bullpen at Triple-A El Paso during his minor league rehab assignment and it sounds like that’s how he’ll be eased back into action with the Padres as well. Márquez has posted a 5.76 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 19/12 K/BB ratio over 29 2/3 innings on the season.

Márquez threw 28 of his 47 pitches for strikes, and it’s a bit surprising the Padres didn’t look to push him for another inning. The 31-year-old was at 36 pitches in his last outing, so the team is clearly being cautious with his progression. That makes it seem like he’ll need at least one more rehab start before potentially returning to the MLB rotation.