Padres release 10-year veteran pitcher from minor league contract

The San Diego Padres parted ways with veteran left-hander Marco Gonzales on Wednesday, releasing him from his minor league contract after he spent more than four months in the organization.

Gonzales, 34, signed with San Diego in late January and entered spring training as a candidate for the back end of the Padres’ rotation. However, he opened the 2026 season with Triple-A El Paso and never fully settled in with the Chihuahuas.

In 13 appearances, including 12 starts, Gonzales compiled a 7.99 ERA across 47.1 innings. He recorded 36 strikeouts and 18 walks while allowing opposing hitters to bat .373 against him. His WHIP finished at 2.03. The left-hander also surrendered six or more runs in four separate starts during the season.

Gonzales’ final appearance with El Paso came on Saturday and was one of his most efficient outings of the year. He allowed three runs, only one of them earned, over four innings. He gave up a season-low three hits while striking out two and walking one.

The former first-round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals has not appeared in the majors since 2024. Injuries limited him during his only season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he made seven starts and logged a 4.54 ERA over 33.2 innings. After multiple stints on the injured list because of a forearm issue, Gonzales underwent flexor tendon surgery in September 2024 and missed the entire 2025 season while recovering.

Before joining the Pirates, Gonzales spent the majority of his career with the Seattle Mariners. Across parts of seven seasons in Seattle, he owned a 4.08 ERA in 852.1 innings. Overall, he has a 4.16 career ERA across 926.2 major league innings, appearing in 170 games with 162 starts. He also made six postseason appearances with the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2014 campaign.

Gonzales now returns to free agency after an unsuccessful comeback attempt following his lengthy recovery from flexor surgery.

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