Jamie Moyer, the 49-year-old whose pitching career has miraculously spanned four decades, asked for his release from the Orioles, and his wish was granted.

When Moyer signed with the Orioles in early June, he told the club he’d make three minor league starts and then the Orioles would have a decision to make on whether or not to promote him.

Moyer’s three starts: 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA and allowing just 11 hits and no walks in 16 innings while striking out 16. Good enough, right?

The Orioles, 40-30 and for the time being a contender in the AL East*, still passed, VP of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette told the Baltimore Sun:

Duquette said, the Orioles already have two lefties in the rotation in Brian Matusz and Wei-Yin Chen, plus swingman Dana Eveland in the bullpen. And lefty Zach Britton is in Norfolk, as is right-hander Chris Tillman, who has been pitching well lately.

Unless some pitching-poor non-contender – Twins? Astros? Indians?** – signs Moyer, it looks like he’ll end up with 269 wins.

* Come on, you don’t really think the Orioles survive the AL East, do you? Don’t we go through this with Toronto every year?
** Yes, you can be in first place 70 games into the season and still be a non-contender. Every other 1st place team has a run differential at this point of +30 or more; the Tribe are -29. It won’t last.