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The San Diego Padres have requested the unconditional release of shortstop Jason Bartlett, reports Jeff Sanders of the North County Times.
— Jeff Sanders (@NCTPadres) August 20, 2012
#Padres have requested unconditional release of SS Jason Bartlett.
The Padres signed Bartlett to a two-year, $11 million deal in 2010 with a $5.5 million option for 2013 following three successful seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. His production with the Padres has been well short of his career norms, however, so the Padres have elected to let Barlett go.
The Padres would have been on the hook for Bartlett's option had he reached 432 plate appearances this year, but now just have to pay the $1.5 million buyout.
Bartlett, 32, played in just twenty-nine games this season, batting only .133/.240/.193 with no home runs, and has been sidelined since mid-May with a right knee strain. It is unclear at this time whether another team will take a flyer on the injured shortstop.