MLB Roster Cuts: Most Notable Players Released so Far

For everyone other than the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners, the start of the regular season is looming.

That means the time is now for teams around Major League Baseball to trim the fat. It's time to cut the unworthy.

Some teams have gotten a head start, and we've already seen some recognizable names get released into the wild. In case you've missed the big ones, here's a rundown of the most notable cuts so far.

Casey Blake, Colorado Rockies

Veteran third baseman Casey Blake was released by the Rockies on Tuesday, as reported by The Denver Post. They were hoping he would be able to cut it as their starting third baseman, but they just didn't see enough out of Blake to trust him.

On top of Blake's .150 batting average this spring, the Rockies had extra incentive to cut him loose because they have a couple youngsters that they can use at the hot corner in 2012.

It will be interesting to see if Blake catches on anywhere else. He's always had a reputation of being a valuable veteran presence, but he's getting up there in age and his health isn't what it used to be. The question now is not what kind of effect Blake could have on a given clubhouse, but whether he'll be able to provide any production at the plate.

There are no guarantees to that end. Even still, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Blake resurface with another team at some point this season. A guy with his reputation won't go unclaimed.

Alex Cora, St. Louis Cardinals

Veteran infielder Alex Cora got the axe on Sunday, along with veteran catcher Koyie Hill, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Many moons ago, Cora was a steady presence at second base with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He didn't hit much, but he and Cesar Izturis formed a solid double-play combo.

Cora settled into a role as a part-time, light-hitting infield option off the bench a few seasons ago, and he's stuck to it ever since. The trouble is that Cora isn't the only player in the world who can fill a role like that, so he's only going to catch on if a team feels like it needs a veteran.

Cora's versatility and experience make him worth a paycheck, and my guess is that he'll get one. Provided he still wants to keep playing, of course.

Jack Cust, Houston Astros

Remember when Jack Cust was the primary slugger in the Oakland Athletics lineup?

Seems like a long time ago. Now, Cust will be looking for a job after being released by the Astros, a move that was reported by the Houston Chronicle.

Cust still has a ton of power, but he was 0-for-24 this spring before he was finally cut. This fits with what we've seen from Cust in the last couple of seasons, as he's gone from being a solid power hitter to being a likely candidate to flirt with the Mendoza line.

Cust will no doubt look to catch on elsewhere, but the reality of his situation is pretty gloomy. Who's going to want a guy who couldn't cut it with the Astros?

Zach Duke, Houston Astros

When Zach Duke went 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in 2005, it looked like the Pittsburgh Pirates had something special.

Not so much. Since then, Duke is 40-72 with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. It's no surprise that he was only able to score a minor league deal with the Astros. They cut him on Tuesday, per the Chronicle.

This is probably the end of the line for Duke. He's still young and doesn't come with any major injury concerns, but he's done enough to prove over the years that he's likely to do more harm than good when he's on the mound.

Preston Mattingly, New York Yankees

Preston Mattingly is not a notable major league player. He's been in baseball ever since 2006, yet he's never climbed any higher than Single-A.

His release by the Yankees is notable simply because it's strange to consider the fact that the Yankees just cut loose a member of the Mattingly family. Preston is the son of former All-Star first baseman Don Mattingly.

According to ESPNNewYork.com, the elder Mattingly does not know if Preston is going to continue his baseball career. After six disappointing seasons, nobody will blame him if he wants to hang 'em up.

Joel Pineiro, Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies released Joel Pineiro last week, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.

The Phillies signed Pineiro to a minor league contract in December. The signing gave them some rotation depth, and it gave Pineiro a chance to compete for a championship. The deal made sense for both sides.

Sadly, Pineiro failed to make an impression in his brief time with the club this spring. Given the difficulties he had in 2011, it's clear that the 33-year-old Pineiro's career is on a downswing, which is a shame given the fact he won 15 games as recently as 2009.

Pineiro likely won't find another major league contract, but he's bound to find another minor league contract if he goes looking for one.

For a complete rundown of this month's transactions, head to MLB.com.