Teams Trim Rosters : Cubs Release Gossage, Al Nipper
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MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs announced today they have released Rich (Goose) Gossage, one of baseball’s premier relief pitchers.
The club said Gossage and another pitcher, Al Nipper, were given unconditional release, trimming the team roster to 27 players.
Gossage finished the 1987 season with 289 career saves, 52 behind Rollie Fingers’ major-league high of 341. Coming into the 1988 season, Gossage had 577 consecutive relief appearances.
But his career floundered with the Cubs, who acquired him from San Diego for Keith Moreland in February, 1988. Gossage went just 4-4 last season with a 4.33 earned run average in 46 games.
Nipper, 29, came to the Cubs along with Calvin Shiraldi in a trade with the Boston Red Sox in December, 1987. Nipper was 2-4 with 3.04 ERA in 22 games, including 12 starts.
Following is a roundup of other roster moves announced by major league clubs:
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