Miami Marlins option Junichi Tazawa and Tyler Cloyd

The Miami Marlins designated Junichi Tazawa for assignment after a poor showing against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tazawa’s Performance

For the second time inside a 24-hour period, Miami Marlins relief pitcher Junichi Tazawa, a right-hander, was tagged for three runs. The two performances increased his ERA for the season to 9.00 in 21 innings. He’s racked up a 6.57 ERA over his Marlins career, covering 75 1/3 innings. His 5.27 FIP while with the team is nearly two runs more than he had posted in seven years with the Boston Red Sox.

Tazawa was a decent pitcher while part of the Red Sox bullpen. In 2012, he struck out 45 in 44 innings, allowing only seven runs all season. He had a 0.955 WHIP and a 1.82 FIP to show for that season.

Overall with Boston, Tazawa racked up a 17-20 record and a 3.58 ERA, with 308 whiffs in 312 innings. He earned a 3.31 FIP and a 1.263 WHIP during his time there. The Miami Marlins signed him as a free agent during the 2016 offseason. They inked him to a two-year, $16 million contract.

Since signing with the Marlins, Tazawa has been one of their least dominant pitchers. It culminated in his last two appearances, both against Los Angeles.

Tazawa entered Wednesday’s game against LA with a 5-1 lead, and quickly surrendered three runs on just 10 pitches. He gave up three hits and recorded a single out.

On Thursday, Tazawa entered for the Miami Marlins trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning. He lasted an inning, allowing four hits and a walk for three more runs. That includes Yasiel Puig’s solo homer, the only round-tripper of the game.

Related Developments

The Miami Marlins also designated righty Tyler Cloyd. In five appearances with the Marlins, Cloyd earned a 10.80 ERA over 13 1/3 innings. This includes his five scoreless innings early on Thursday against the Dodgers.

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Cloyd and Tazawa will likely end up with the New Orleans Baby Cakes. In a possibly corresponding set of moves, RHP’s Odrisamer Despaigne and Brett Graves were sent to the Jupiter Hammerheads on a rehabilitation assignment.

Let’s face it. The money committed to Tazawa’s salary was the fifth most expensive on the books for the Miami Marlins. That money was going to waste anyway, considering Tazawa’s performance over his time with the Marlins. There are several options in triple-A available to them for long relief / spot-starter. Trevor Richards, Dillon Peters, and Adam Conley chief amongst them.

Next: Elieser Hernandez - Miami's Next Great Pitcher?

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