Veteran left-hander Austin Gomber has been placed on outright waivers by the Colorado Rockies, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. It has been a rough season for Gomber, who is on a one-year deal worth $6.35 million guaranteed this season before hitting unrestricted free agency.
Report: Austin Gomber Released by Rockies
The Colorado Rockies place struggling left-handed starter Austin Gomber on outright waivers. He’s earning $6.35 million.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 21, 2025
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It is an unceremonious end to Gomber’s career in Colorado. He was part of the infamous Nolan Arenado trade and played with the Rockies for five seasons. Gomber was a trade candidate that the Rockies were shopping both last summer and at the trade deadline this season. But no deal ever came to fruition. As the Rockies begin their rebuild in earnest, it was very likely that the 31-year-old would not be re-signed this offseason anyway.
After the deadline passed, Gomber was one of the few 30+ year-olds remaining on the Rockies’ roster. After one of his best seasons in 2024, Gomber has had one of his worst this season. His WAR dropped from a career-high 2.1 last season to a career-worst -0.2 this season. He immediately started this season on the wrong foot, hitting the injured list due to a shoulder injury suffered in spring training that kept him out until June 15.
In his first start, Gomber had a solid outing, shutting out the Atlanta Braves for five innings with four strikeouts in a 10-1 Rockies win. But after that, Gomber mostly struggled and was never able to get on track.
Gomber Experiencing Career-Worst Season
In his second start of the season vs the Arizona Diamondbacks, Gomber was shelled. In just 4 2/3 IP, Gomber allowed 12 hits, nine earned runs, and three home runs in a 14-8 loss. Per Statmuse, the nine earned runs allowed tied a career-high for Gomber.
Gomber followed with two starts against the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing just three earned runs in 10 combined innings pitched. But he would be the losing pitcher in five of his next six outings, failing to record at least six innings in all but one start, signifying just how far Gomber had dropped off this season. Per Statmuse, he tied for second on the Rockies last season with 12 quality starts. His 165 innings pitched and 2.2 WAR were both the highest on the Rockies’ pitching staff last season. But he has failed to replicate that solid play this season.
His second-worst start of the season came on Tuesday against the Dodgers, as he allowed seven earned runs and two homers in just three innings as part of an 11-4 loss. Following the game, Gomber touched on his struggles this season.
“I just feel like I’m a little bit lost out there right now. Don’t really have any confidence, conviction… Really don’t have an identity of what I’m trying to do. Just trying to figure it out, man… It is what it is.”
In 2023, Gomber was very open about the emotions he was feeling in a struggling season as he felt immense pressure from being the main return in the Arenado trade. He has always been very open and vulnerable about the mental side of the game. In a career-worst season, he is again feeling the pressure that comes with being a professional athlete.
Outlook for Gomber Moving Forward
Gomber’s release is brutal timing following his postgame interview, but it is a reminder that sports is a business at the end of the day. Any interested teams will surely wait until Gomber clears waivers before potentially signing him. At that point, the Rockies will pay the remainder of his salary, and he can sign for the veteran minimum.
Gomber has been one of the worst starting pitchers in Major League Baseball this season, ranking in the bottom five percent league-wide in numerous pitching categories on Statcast. Per Statmuse, Gomber’s 7.49 ERA is the seventh-highest in the MLB among starting pitchers who have pitched in at least five starts this season. Gomber relies mainly on a four-seam fastball that averages 89.5 mph and a curveball that averages 76 mph. He is near the bottom of baseball when it comes to the value of both pitches. His -20 pitching run value is in the bottom two percent of baseball league-wide. It hasn’t just been at Coors Field this season either. His 6.04 xERA, a park-adjusted metric, is also in the bottom two percent of baseball.
Although he never saw an over .500 season with the club, Austin Gomber had solid moments with the Rockies and was one of their most consistent starters last season. But the Rockies decided it was time to part ways after his latest bad start, and Gomber will hit the open market.
Main Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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