Left-hander Scott Kazmir, who was released by the Los Angeles Angels in June, will pitch in winter ball this offseason in an attempt to rebuild his career, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
Once considered among the most promising young starters in baseball, and a two-time All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays, the 27-year-old Kazmir has seen a rapid descent since he was acquired by the Angels in August 2009.
The breaking point for the Angels came when Kazmir made his fifth rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake and gave up six earned runs and five hits in just 1 2/3 innings. In his five starts with Salt Lake, Kazmir had a 17.02 ERA in 15 1/3 innings, giving up 29 earned runs and 22 hits.
Kazmir made just one start for the Angels this season, giving up five earned runs in 1 2/3 innings on April 3 against Kansas City. He was placed on the disabled list April 8 with lower back soreness.
The struggles for Kazmir began last year when his first full season with the Angels ended with a 9-15 record in 28 starts -- the second-highest loss total in baseball -- and a 5.94 ERA. He went to the disabled list twice, first with a hamstring injury and later with fatigue in his pitching shoulder.
Kazmir led the AL with 239 strikeouts in 2007.
He was taken 15th overall in the 2002 draft by the New York Mets out of Cypress Falls High School in Texas and was traded to the Rays during the 2004 season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.