The Mets have announced, via their Twitter account, that they have released RHP Shaun Marcum.

#Mets announced today that RHP Shaun Marcum has been placed on waivers for purposes of his unconditional release… (continued)

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 23, 2013

This move will save them roughly $1 million tied to a roster bonus in his contract. It will also open a spot on the team’s 40-man roster.

Marcum was 1-10 with a 5.29 ERA and 1.35 WHIP, and was expected to be out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Brewers 6 Mets 1

This was a difficult game to watch, particularly after waiting through almost three hours of a rain delay. There was a point — after four innings — when I thought the Mets had a chance, but after the fifth, it seemed like everyone was just waiting for the game to end.

Mets 2 Brewers 1

This was an old-fashioned pitching duel, pitting two savvy starters who kept batters off-balance and pitched to contact. In the end, the Mets prevailed.

A quick recap of what happened at the baseball winter meetings in Orlando, Florida on Sunday / Monday.

– Adrian Gonzalez was officially traded to the Red Sox

– Jayson Werth signed a 7-year, $126M deal with the Nationals

– Shaun Marcum was traded to the Brewers

– Melvin Mora signed with the Diamondbacks

– J.J. Putz signed with the Diamondbacks

– Mark Reynolds was traded by the D-Backs to the Orioles

Kevin Correia agreed to a two-year, $8M deal with the Pirates

– Aaron Harang signed with the Padres

– Lance Berkman signed with the Cardinals

– Russ Adams and Dusty Ryan signed minor-league deals with the Mets

– Omir Santos signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers

– Pat Gillick was voted into the Hall of Fame. OK, nothing against Gillick — he was an amazing GM, and congrats to him — but how in the world does he get into the HOF before Marvin Miller and George Steinbrenner? Love them or hate them (I hate Miller), how is it that two people whose influence had as much of an impact on the sport as anyone over the past 40 years, are not properly recognized by an institution honoring baseball history? I guess Steinbrenner is left out because of the Nixon contributions and the Howie Spira thing, but how is Miller not voted in? And again, I hate Miller, but he is a significant figure who played a major part in shaping the game as we know it today. But then, maybe that’s exactly the reason he remains on the outside looking in.

The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired righthanded starter Shaun Marcum from the Toronto Blue Jays in return for minor league second base prospect Brett Lawrie.

Marcum is a tough competitor who relies on guile, control, and changing speeds to keep batters off-balance — he’s also a bit of a bad-ass, unafraid of throwing inside (i.e., “moving the batter’s feet”). He sat out all of 2009 after Tommy John surgery but was in perfect health in 2010. The 29-year-old steps into the #2 spot in Milwaukee’s rotation.

Toronto gets the 20-year-old, Canadian-born Lawrie, who some scouts compare to Jeff Kent for his offensive prowess. The Brewers were willing to give him up because of some “personality issues”; per various rumors, the Brewers were disappointed with the youngster’s work ethic and upset that he declined an opportunity to play in the Arizona Fall League. Well, it’s not uncommon to be immature at age 20, is it? Certainly, there is time for Lawrie to turn around.

Interestingly, Lawrie was suggested in a post by Matt Himelfarb a few weeks back, as a possible player to acquire in return for Mike Pelfrey:

… sending Pelfrey to the Brewers for Brett Lawrie would be awfully nice, although I doubt Milwaukee would be interested

As it turns out, if the Brewers were willing to give up Lawrie for Marcum, I imagine a trade for Pelfrey would not have been out of the question. However, I’m not sure the Mets would have made such a deal. Still, interesting call by Mr. Himelfarb.