Rays to release struggling Jennings

Desmond Jennings' disappointing season just took a turn for the worst.

The Tampa Bay Rays announced they are releasing the struggling outfielder on Saturday, following a disappointing 2016 campaign where the former top prospect is slashing .200/.281/.350.

"It was time," manager Kevin Cash told reporters. "Best for him, best for us going forward."

Jennings, once ranked among the top 20 prospects in all of baseball, has been hobbled by injuries in recent years, hitting better than .250 in only three of his seven seasons in MLB.

"It's unfortunate it just didn't work out," Cash added. "We couldn't quite get him on the field as much as we would have liked."

Jennings is owed a total $3.3 million for 2016.