SAN DIEGO -- Scratch two names off the Padres' list of 2018 rotation candidates.
Right-hander Jarred Cosart and left-hander Christian Friedrich -- both of whom underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery during the season -- cleared outright waivers and have opted for free agency, the club announced Monday.
The moves don't come as much of a surprise, given that the Padres were going to be pressed for 40-man roster space entering the offseason. Both Friedrich and Cosart were arbitration-eligible this year and were candidates to be non-tendered.
Friedrich, 30, pitched 24 games for the Padres in 2016, posting a 4.