Eddie Guardado caught by surprise by release

Embitterday Eddie…

In his 17 years of professional baseball, Eddie Guardado had never been released before this morning, when the Washington Nationals included him in their first round of cuts.

“They caught him totally, pretty much, by surprise,” said Kevin Kohler, Guardado’s agent. “I don’t think he was expecting it at all.”

...Guardado, whom the Nationals signed to a minor league contract in late December, pitched just two innings this spring. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits, but he expected more of an opportunity, Kohler said, particularly in his specialty: retiring left-handed batters.

When Kohler spoke with Guardado today, “he said, ‘I’ve been busting my [butt] out here everyday, and they give me two innings?’ ” Kohler said. “If he signs somewhere, it will be with someone he knows. He’s going to have to trust them; let’s put it like that.

“I don’t know what they’re thinking. It’s not like the other guys are really tearing it up.”