Rockies release Jason Motte

Today it became official; Jason Motte is no longer a Colorado Rockie. After being designated for assignment a week ago, Motte has passed through waivers and been granted his release into free agency. The Rockies are on the hook for about $5 million this season for his contract.

It remains to be seen if the team will follow suit with fellow past-his-prime-but-once-dominant-reliever Chad Qualls who for now is on the Disabled List.

For now, the Rockies new and improved bullpen has been excellent, not allowing an earned run yet in two games. Scott Oberg, who replaced Motte, has looked solid so far as a part of that.

The rest of the bullpen is made up of Greg Holland, Adam Ottavino, Jake McGee, Mike Dunn, Carlos Estevez, Jordan Lyles and German Marquez.

Lyles could be DFA’d or Marquez could be optioned to make room for Qualls, or Jeff Bridich could double-down on cutting his losses and saying goodbye to both of the veteran relievers he acquired last offseason.