Tigers release Pelfrey despite $8M remaining on deal

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila continues to rid the club of underperforming veterans this spring - despite millions remaining on their contracts.

Mike Pelfrey is the most recent cut from the roster, as the Tigers gave the right-hander his unconditional release Thursday.

"I maybe kind of knew it was coming a little bit," Pelfrey said, according to Evan Woodbery of Michigan Live. "When they told me, I just apologized that I put them in that situation to make that decision."

The 33-year-old agreed to a two-year, $16-million contract prior to last season, and is still owed $8 million.

After going 4-10 with a 5.07 ERA and 1.73 WHIP across 119 innings in 2016, Pelfrey's struggles continued this spring. He posted a 7.94 ERA and 1.76 WHIP across 17 innings and failed to crack the club's rotation.

On Sunday, Avila released struggling right-handed reliever Mark Lowe, who is owed $5 million this season. Lowe agreed to his deal with the Tigers two days after Pelfrey signed in December 2015.