Eight days after designating Mat Latos for assignment, the Los Angeles Dodgers officially cut ties with the right-hander on Friday as he was released from the organization. Latos, 27, can sign with any club as a free agent, but won’t be eligible for a postseason roster.
The Dodgers acquired Latos from the Miami Marlins with the expectation he, along with Alex Wood, would anchor the backend of the starting rotation. Instead, Latos struggled after holding the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to one run on four hits over six innings in his Dodgers debut on Aug. 2.
Following two more August starts in which he failed to throw five innings, Latos was moved to the bullpen as off days in the schedule presented the Dodgers with the option to temporarily go to a four-man rotation. Latos didn’t appear out of the bullpen and went 16 days between starts — something he expressed frustration over.
Latos managed one start in September — against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park — which marked his final start with the Dodgers. He allowed four runs on eight hits in four innings of work, and voiced his displeasure with Dodgers manager Don Mattingly’s decision to remove him from the outing.
The right-hander last appeared in a game on Sept. 15, during which he gave up a go-ahead and decided solo home run to Nolan Arenado in the 16th inning. Latos is a combined 4-10 with a 4.95 ERA, 3.54 FIP and 1.31 WHIP this season; including 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA, 4.00 FIP and 1.52 WHIP during his brief time with the Dodgers.
