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The San Francisco Giants have announced the release of pitcher Ramon Ortiz.
Ortiz, 39, allowed just three earned runs in 10 2/3 innings this spring, so there's a chance he's picked up by another club. Ortiz appeared in 22 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2011, only 2 as a starter, posting a 1-2 record with a 4.86 ERA in 33 1/3 innings. Ortiz made 16 starts at triple-A Iowa in 2011, completing 99 1/3 innings. The 11-year veteran pitched for the Angels from 1999 through 2004, but has a rocky carrer since, not appearing in a major league game in 2008 and 2009. He agreed to a minor league contract with the Giants in February.
The Giants would have owed Ortiz a $100K retention bonus had they kept him in the organization past a certain date in late spring. The Giants also reassigned four other players: Shane Loux, Andrew Kown, Wilmin Rodriguez and lefty Brian Burres.