In January 2011, the Oakland Athletics signed Brian Fuentes to a two-year contract worth $10.5 million. They also included a 2013 option and some performance incentives. Since June 15, 2012, Fuentes has appeared in two games, and he hasn't been hurt. I think that tells you a little about how the Fuentes situation has gone. Today's news will tell you more.

In fact, today's news will tell you everything:

#Athletics reinstate RHP Bartolo Colon from the disabled list; designate LHP Brian Fuentes for assignment.

— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) July 3, 2012

Several days ago, there was a report that the A's were looking to trade Fuentes. They found no takers, and while they could still trade him in the coming ten days, there's no value coming back, nor should there be. Fuentes is 36, nearly 37, and he's allowed 19 runs in 25 innings this year. After striking out 24 percent of batters in 2010, he's struck out 16 percent of batters with Oakland. Fuentes can still pitch to lefties, so it's not like he'll stay without a job, but he's a shell of the old Brian Fuentes, and the A's certainly didn't have any use for him anymore.

Fuentes will settle somewhere, to pitch sometimes, occasionally well.