The Seattle Mariners have made some roster moves, with a focus on their bullpen and starting rotation. The team has placed right-hander Matt Brash on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain, retroactive to June 9th. This is the second time this year that Brash has dealt with lat issues, and it's an unfortunate setback for the Mariners' bullpen.
Brash, a key setup arm for the team, has a 3.06 earned run average in 185 1/3 innings. His performance around injuries this year has been impressive, with an ERA of 0.54 in 16 2/3 innings. However, the Mariners are running a six-man rotation, which means they have a shorter bullpen than most other clubs, leaving them with just seven relievers.
The team has recalled right-hander Domingo González from Triple-A Tacoma and reinstated infielder Miles Mastrobuoni from the 60-day injured list. In corresponding moves, infielder Ryan Bliss has been optioned to Tacoma, and right-hander Yosver Zulueta has been designated for assignment.
Zulueta, 28, has never pitched for the Mariners in the big leagues. He was acquired from the Reds in January and has been on optional assignment this year. He has thrown 20 1/3 Triple-A innings with a 5.75 ERA, walking 16.3% of batters faced. His 21.4% strikeout rate and 56.9% ground ball rate are decent, but his poor control is a significant issue.
Throughout his career, Zulueta has struggled with control, walking 14.3% of batters faced in Triple-A and 10.9% in the majors. He has a 3.94 ERA in 203 1/3 Triple-A innings with a 26.9% strikeout rate. The Mariners now have him in DFA limbo, which can last up to a week, as they explore trade interest or consider other options.
The team has a limited amount of time to make decisions about Zulueta, as the waiver process takes 48 hours. If he is passed through waivers unclaimed, the Mariners could keep him as non-roster depth. This situation highlights the challenges of managing a bullpen and starting rotation, especially with a short-handed team like the Mariners.
