Trachsel, 37, was 2-5 with an 8.39 ERA in 10 games this season, including eight starts. After losing his spot in the starting rotation, he yielded six runs in two relief appearances totaling six innings.
The Orioles signed Trachsel as a free agent in February after he spent the 2007 with Baltimore and the Chicago Cubs. Trachsel was supposed to eat up innings on a team featuring a youthful rotation and a rebuilding bullpen, but he failed to last more than three innings in half of his eight starts and reached the seventh inning only twice.
After a series of ineffective starts, Trachsel was skipped in the rotation so the other four starters could maintain a regular routine. He has pitched only three times since May 9.
Trachsel appeared in only one game out of the bullpen during his 14-year career before serving in long relief on June 1 against the Boston Red Sox.
After allowing two runs in five innings, he said, "If I can prepare and know what to prepare for, then I don't see any reason why I can't be successful at doing whatever role they want. ... I'm just trying to figure out a way to where I can be productive with this team."
Working in relief apparently wasn't the answer. He was pulled against the Toronto Blue Jays after letting a 9-1 lead shrink to 9-5 in the ninth inning.
With Trachsel gone, the Orioles' rotation now consists of 29-year-old Jeremy Guthrie; 27-year-olds Daniel Cabrera and Brian Burres; and rookies Garrett Olson and Radhames Liz.
Trachsel owns a lifetime record of 143-159. He broke into the majors with the Cubs and played with Tampa Bay, Toronto and the New York Mets before going 6-8 with Baltimore last year. He was traded to Chicago on Aug. 31 and released by the Cubs after the season.
To replace Trachsel on the roster, the Orioles selected the contract of first baseman Oscar Salazar from Triple-A Norfolk. Salazar hit .311 with seven homers and 44 RBIs in 63 games with the Tides.
Salazar's only previous stint in the majors came in 2002, when he went 4-for-21 in eight games with Detroit. He was signed by the Orioles as a minor league free agent in November 2006.
Champions poor on the road
O’s to skip struggling Trachsel’s turn in rotation
