Jair Jurrjens is a cautionary tale of not expecting success to continue in pro sports.  Jurrjens was an All-Star in 2011 and at some points in the season was thought to have a shot at the National League Cy Young.  In 2012, he struggled, was injured, and eventually sent to the minors.  Now, he is no longer a member of the Atlanta Braves' organization.

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the Braves did not tender Jurrjens a contract for 2013 making him a free agent.  This was an expected move, but it completed a huge fall from grace.


Jurrjens went 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 2011.  However, in 2012, Jurrjens finished his season with the Braves with a record of 3-4 and a 6.89 ERA.  He only pitched in 11 games.  In 14 starts at Triple-A in 2012, Jurrjens didn't fare much better.  He went 4-6 with a 4.98 ERA.

Jurrjens hit the DL in early August with a strained groin.  However, he was already struggling leading up to that point.  Jurrjens did not re-join the club after the injury.  He was already 3-4 with the 6.89 ERA by the time he was injured.  He had already been demoted from the rotation, and he had already spent time in Triple-A.  The injury simply served to re-enforce the Braves' decision not to add him back to the starting rotation.

Now, Jurrjens is free to seek a contract elsewhere.  He may have to sign a minor league deal and work his way back to a big league club.
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