Braves release P Freddy Garcia

Freddy Garcia has played for seven different teams in his 15-year MLB career. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) The Atlanta Braves have released veteran pitcher

Freddy Garcia has played for seven different teams in his 15-year MLB career. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves have released veteran pitcher Freddy Garcia, according to the AtlantaJournal-Constitution's David O'Brien.

Garcia was signed in the offseason by the team to bolster its starting pitching depth and seemed likely to make the Opening Day roster when pitchers Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen both underwent Tommy John surgery. CBSSports.com's Mike Axisa reports that Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez told reporters earlier this month "thank God we signed Freddy Garcia," in regards to the pitching injuries the club had sustained.

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Garcia was 1-2 with a 1.65 ERA for the Braves last year after they acquired him from the Baltimore Orioles late in the season. He was set to make $1.5 million if he was with the club when the season began.

#Braves Garcia; "They said they didn't want to pick up my (contract). I gotta go.... I don't have anything to say."

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 24, 2014

#Braves apparently going with Schlosser in rotation. Garcia would've made $1.25M guaranteed if on OD roster. Frankly, I don't get this one

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 24, 2014