The Mariners designate a left-hander José Suarez for the assignment, reports Ari Alexander of Boston 7 News. Seattle will open Bryce Miller on the 15-day injured list to start tomorrow’s game against the Astros. They need to dismount a person from the boarding staff in a coordinated motion.
Suarez, out of minor league options, ends up being an injured player. (Shuttle will work again Jose A. Ferrer from the father’s list within the next day or two, so that will push someone else from the middle group back to the minors.) Suarez made just one appearance in an M’s uniform, allowing a run on two hits and a couple walks over two innings. They accused him of not being waived by the Braves on May 3.
Between Atlanta and Seattle, the 28-year-old southpaw carries a 6.38 earned run average in 18 1/3 innings. He struck out more than 27% of hitters but issued walks at a rate of nearly 16%. Suarez was a skilled pitcher early in his career as a starter with the Angels. That has changed over the past few seasons.
Suarez sports a $900K median salary that sits slightly north of the league minimum. He is capable of working multiple innings out of the bullpen but may need an active roster spot if another team wants him. The Mariners have five days to trade him or try to send him off waivers. If he clears waivers, Suarez will have the right to decline an outright assignment in favor of freedom. He would forfeit his remaining salary to do so, however, so it is likely that he will report to Triple-A Tacoma if no other team places him on the MLB roster.
The Mariners are going through a six-man rotation with Miller’s return. They will fall into the seven-man fold as a result. Alex Hoppe worked multiple innings several times. Cooper Criswell he has enough experience in long relief as well, but he pitches his way toward the back of the bullpen with short high-leverage stints.
