A year ago John Patterson was the Washington Nationals’ Opening Day starter. Today he was released.

Patterson hasn’t been able to stay, or even get, healthy over the past few seasons. Now 30, the right-hander is on the verge of joining a long list of names, comprised of talented pitchers whose careers were derailed pre-maturely based on incessant injuries. 

The last time Patterson remained healthy throughout the majority of a season was back in 2005. He did his best work that year, going 9-7 with a 3.13 era in a 31-start campaign, his first with the Nationals. The big righty has been right since though, and after posting an ERA over 7 in his spring work so far in 2008, the Nationals have decided to give up on their one-time ace.

Patterson started just eight-games in 2006 and seven more in 2007. He combined to go 2-7 in those two seasons, yielding 46 earned-runs in 72-innings. His career numbers at this moment (18-25, 4.32), no longer do his early-career compotence and ability justice.

There are a slew of teams in baseball who will get in line to take a flyer on Patterson. If he struggles with his next employer, another team will give him a third-chance next year. If he doesn’t perform will in that audition he’ll end up getting a fourth and fifth chance, based on the potential he still has if he were ever able to get - and then stay - healthy. Heck, Sidney Ponson got an invite to a camp in 2008 for goodness sake.

Here is to hoping that Patterson can find a way to stay on the mound. He’s a solid pitcher who has looked like a front-line performer at times. Right now though, he’s jobless, and unless he can get healthy he’s going to stay that way.