Astros release Francisco Cordero and his 19.80 ERA - MLB

Francisco Cordero’s disastrous stint with the Astros is officially over, as he was given his release by the club today.

After being acquired from the Blue Jays in July as part of a 10-player deal, Cordero allowed 11 runs on 13 hits and four walks in five innings over six appearances. That’s a 19.80 ERA. If that wasn’t bad enough, he also went 0-for-3 in save opportunities. The 37-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched since August 1 due to an inflamed ligament in his right toe and recently developed some shoulder soreness, so the Astros just decided to get rid of some dead weight.

Cordero has a career-worst 7.55 ERA over 47 appearances this season overall. Only Manny Acosta has a higher ERA (7.62) among pitchers with at least 30 innings pitched. It’s possible he could land somewhere on a minor league deal this winter, but he’s looking pretty much cooked.

LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson and Tommy Kahnle appear set to rejoin the New York Yankees ahead of their series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots, saying that infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero had been optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook after a 1-0 loss at Seattle.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton potentially returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.