Cubs release veteran reliever Howry

The Cubs gave veteran right-handed reliever Bob Howry his unconditional release Friday in order to open up a spot on the roster for the return of Carlos Zambrano.

Howry was 0-3 with a 5.66 ERA in 24 relief appearances with the Cubs. It was his second tour of duty with the Cubs, having previously pitched for the club from 2006-2008. He join the Cubs on May 21 after starting the season with the Diamondbacks, where he was 1-0 with a 10.67 ERA in 14 appearances.

"That was a little hard on me, because he's such a classy, classy young man," Piniella said of Howry's release. "I'm not entirely sure he was surprised. I wish him well. He's a good person, and he's had a (heck) of a career."

Piniella said that after talking to Howry on Friday morning in Piniella's hotel room, he thinks Howry is going to retire. The 36-year-old reliever is heading home to the Phoenix area from Colorado before returning to Chicago to pick up his things.

Howry began his big-league career with the White Sox in 1998, and has a 45-52 career record with a 3.84 ERA. He pitched in 769 games, all in relief.