The Colorado Rockies designated Jason Motte for assignment Friday after the veteran reliever struggled throughout spring training.
Motte, 34, was entering the second year of a two-year, $10 million contract with the Rockies. He appeared in eight games this spring, going 0-2 with an 8.31 ERA.
The Rockies parted ways with Motte in a corresponding move to Friday's announcement that right-handed reliever Scott Oberg would start the season on Colorado's 25-man roster.
"We just felt like when we looked at all of the pitchers, we just had a few guys ahead of (Motte)," Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters, according to The Denver Post. "Jason, at times, showed a nice fastball velocity, and spotted it at times. He had the little cutter-slider.
"But we looked at the collection of guys we had in our 'pen, and we had some guys ahead of him."
Motte was outstanding as a member of the Cardinals, closing out St. Louis' World Series championship in 2011 and recording 42 saves the following season.
But the veteran right-hander has struggled to regain his form since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013. He battled shoulder problems last season and appeared in just 30 games with the Rockies, posting a 4.94 ERA.