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Red Sox Release Bobby Jenks

With three months left on his two-year, $12 million contract, veteran relief pitcher Bobby Jenks has been released by the Boston Red Sox.

BOSTON, MA - MAY 01: Bobby Jenks #52 of the Boston Red Sox walks off the field after walking in two runs in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners on May 1, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 01: Bobby Jenks #52 of the Boston Red Sox walks off the field after walking in two runs in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners on May 1, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 01: Bobby Jenks #52 of the Boston Red Sox walks off the field after walking in two runs in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners on May 1, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Getty Images

It's not been a great couple of years for Bobby Jenks.

After signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Red Sox before last season, Jenks got into only 19 games and posted a mountainous ERA, spending most of the season on the Disabled List. He underwent a couple of back surgeries, one of which went terribly wrong. Last March, he got busted for drunk driving. And this season he hasn’t pitched at all, not even in the minors.

Now this:

Hey it’s only twelve million bucks. Easy come, easy go.

And while one might sympathize with Bobby Jenks, there was that twelve million bucks with which he might console himself. Even after taxes, union dues, tips to the clubhouse attendants, and the best flip-flops on the market, he shouldn’t have to get a real job for a while.

Still, it seems a shame what’s happened to a guy who’s only 31 and was, just five years ago, one of baseball’s top relief pitchers. It can all go away, so fast.

This does clear a spot on the Red Sox’ 40-man roster. Maybe we’ll finally see Mark Prior soon.

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