Is Dontrelle Willis's career over?

Lefty Dontrelle Willis was released by the Phillies on Friday. The move raises the possibility that Willis has pitched for the last time.

On Friday, the Phillies parted ways with Dontrelle Willis, who was battling to make the active roster as a LOOGY (i.e., "Lefty, One-Out Guy"). Willis struggled in three spring outings, giving up five runs in 2.2 innings while walking four and striking out none.

Curiously, though, the Phillies exposed Willis quite a bit to the opposite side, particularly for someone who was to be deployed as a strict specialist. While the overall results were ugly, Willis faced just four left-handed hitters in camp and allowed only one to reach base (by comparison, eight of the 12 right-handed batters he faced reached safely). As well, Willis was wildly effective against left-handers last season (a microscopic OPS allowed of .369), and he's been similarly dominant against same-side bats for his entire career. As such, it's quite possible he can still be useful (so long as he's never allowed to face a righty in a meaningful situation), and it's quite possible that the Phillies have made a hasty decision.

Still, this may be the last we see of Willis on a major-league mound. Willis is still just 30 years of age, but he hasn't been both healthy and effective since 2006. Once upon a time, though, he was something special.

Willis won NL Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 2003, when his Florida Marlins went to claim the belt and the title, and in 2005 he racked up five shutouts and finished second in the Cy Young balloting. But Willis worked almost 600 major-league innings before his 24th birthday. Perhaps it's the heavy usage that undid him.

Over the years, Willis endured knee, forearm and elbow problems. He battled split fingernails and hip strains, and for a long time he suffered under an anxiety disorder. If nothing else, Willis doesn't give up easily. For that reason, maybe this isn't the last we'll see of him.