Matt Garza blasts Brewers, refuses to move to bullpen

The Milwaukee Brewers recently decided to remove Matt Garza from their starting rotation for the remainder of the season, and the veteran right-hander is furious about it.

After Garza allowed four earned runs and seven hits in just 4 2/3 innings of work on Saturday (a no-decision that the Brewers won 8-6), manager Craig Counsell revealed that the start would be the 31-year-old’s last of the season.

“I think it’s important that we get Matt ready for 2016,” Counsell said, via Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He’s going to be a member of the rotation in 2016, and we’re going to just push the stop button right now.”

Garza is 6-14 this season with a 5.63 ERA in 25 starts. Brewers GM Doug Melvin said the team offered to let Garza move to the bullpen, but he declined. That’s because Garza is furious he lost his spot in the rotation.

“It’s (expletive),” he said Saturday. “It’s not my decision. I didn’t get much say. It’s completely taken out of my hands. That’s it. I didn’t have any say at all. It is what it is. It’s just (expletive).

“I told them what I felt. Had my agent call up top and tell them how I felt, and that’s that. I’ve played with guys who have gone through similar-type situations, just a rough year, and never once have I seen a guy shut down. They do things differently here, I don’t know. But I’ll be here for the next two-three years, so it is what it is.”

There’s no guarantee that Garza will be in Milwaukee through the end of his contract, especially since Counsell said the team is looking to give some younger pitchers a chance to showcase their talents down the stretch. Although, trading a 31-year-old pitcher who is coming off his worst season in the majors would be next to impossible.

Remember what this GM said about trading Garza? I wonder if those sentiments still apply.

H/T Big League Stew
Photo: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports