The Orioles have given right-hander Miguel Gonzalez -- a key piece to the Orioles’ starting rotation for the past three-plus seasons -- his unconditional release, according to an industry source.
Gonzalez will be on release waivers for the next 48 hours and if no team claims him he will become a free agent.
The 31-year-old Gonzalez, one of the Orioles’ best finds in recent years, still had a minor-league option, but given what Gonzalez was making, the team decided to part ways entirely. Any team claiming Gonzalez would have to pick up his $5.1-million salary, but if he goes unclaimed the Orioles must still pay him 20 percent of that – or about $1.