Kazmir released; other pitchers sent down,

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Braves saw enough of veteran pitcher Scott Kazmir this spring to come to a conclusion:

They didn’t want him. They released Kazmir after he left Saturday’s game with “arm fatigue,” deciding to dump the left-hander despite owing him $16 million.

Kazmir missed the entire 2017 season with the Dodgers because of assorted injuries and presumably would’ve had to open the 2018 season on the DL after his early exit from Saturday’s Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

But rather than deal with the injury-plagued pitcher, who couldn’t be sent to the minors without his consent, had no desire to pitch in the minors and had almost no bullpen experience, the Braves decided Saturday afternoon to cut him loose.

After leaving Saturday’s game, Kazmir was seen exiting the clubhouse with general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who was a Dodgers executive last season when the pitcher was sidelined all year by ailments, including a bad hip and, yes, “arm fatigue.”

Anibal Sanchez, recently signed to a minor league deal, will move into the fifth starter role until rookie Luiz Gohara (sprained ankle) comes off the disabled list as soon as late April.

Three sent to Triple-A: The Braves optioned pitchers Lucas Sims, Aaron Blair and Matt Wisler to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday, further narrowing the competition for the final spots on the pitching staff.

None of the moves was surprising, given recent struggles by Sims and Wisler and the presence of veteran starters Scott Kazmir and recently signed Anibal Sanchez.

Blair, 25, had the best spring of the three optioned former top prospects, posting a decent 4.15 ERA in five games (one start), but he allowed 10 hits and five walks in 8⅔ innings. That was far better than either Sims and Wisler.

Sims, 23, had a 10.13 ERA in six games (two starts) this spring and allowed 18 hits, 15 earned runs, four homers, 10 walks and three hit batters in 13⅓ innings. In his past two outings, the former firstround draft pick from Brookwood High School gave up nine hits, 12 runs (10 earned runs) and five walks in six innings, including four walks in three innings in an eightrun outing Thursday against the Cardinals.

Wisler, 25, had an 8.10 ERA in six games (three starts), with all 12 runs allowed coming in his past three outings.