The long, sad decline of Noah Syndergaard hit another low Sunday.
The Cleveland Guardians announced they are designating the 30-year-old right-hander for assignment.
Syndergaard, 30, is clearly not the same pitcher he was before March 2020, when he underwent Tommy John surgery that cost him most of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The former All-Star, whose nickname (“Thor”) has seemed out of place since he lost his triple-digit fastball, has been rocked this season. He had a 7.16 ERA in 12 starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the team traded him to Cleveland at the deadline.
Syndergaard’s struggles have continued with the Guardians. In his last three starts, he’s given up 13 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings, with six home runs. He gave up five earned runs, with three homers, in six innings against the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday, prompting his DFA.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. just hit a moonshot. #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/8BS9vIUTnQ
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) August 27, 2023
Perhaps another team will take a chance on Syndergaard, but he’s now pitched for four teams in the past year, including stops with the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies.
Baseball fans on Twitter wondered what’s next for the one-time “God of Thunder.”
He was given 3, 4 home runs a game. And with Cal Quantrill almost back, he became expendable.
I'm a Guardians fan, and I was rooting for him. He's only 30. I hope he can find it again before he hangs 'em up.— OhioExPat (@VernRipley) August 28, 2023
This might be the end for Thor
— Nelson (@BelgerNelson) August 27, 2023
Sometimes when guys come back from TJ they are never the same. It’s sad. Syndergaard was an elite talent.
— Frank from Mineola (@frankiet91175) August 27, 2023
nobody is gonna pick up his contract ,, but after he clears waivers someone will sign him for minimum for the rest of the year (wonder who?) ,, then he will be a free agent for next year,,
— Lou Gary Scyrkels (@lougaryscyrkels) August 28, 2023
I don’t see him getting any better at this point in his career 🤷♀️
— brianna levy (@indiansfan101) August 28, 2023
Let’s see, Matt Harvey, Wheeler, @Noahsyndergaard & Jacob deGrom all had multiple major arm issues coming through the Mets and that’s not a training issue or pitcher development issue in that organization??
— Chief Ken Ferrante, Ret. (@KenFerrante) August 27, 2023
