The Seattle Mariners cut their roster to 27 today by optioning right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley – who’d put together a 1.98 earned run average this spring – to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers.
Kelley, 27, had battled injuries that limited him to 10 appearances last year and, with Brandon League, Tom Wilhelmsen and Steve Delabar already in the bullpen as power right-handers, Kelley was expendable.
“He’s still a young guy with things to work on, who has a nice arm and does some things really well,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “This move is not a sign of anything. I guaratee we’ll bring him up a some point this season.”
Since making the team in 2009, Kelley has gone 8-5 with a 3.66 ERA in 73 career appearances – and been on the disabled list three times with significant injuries.
The move may allow the Mariners to keep right-hander Erasmo Ramirrez in their bullpen.
This may be an indication of the club believing that the 3-4-5 starters may not work deep into games for the first part of the season, hence the need for a long reliever (Ramirez) more than another power arm 1-inning guy (Kelley).
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Reading portions of R.A. Dickey’s new autobiography, I’m reminded of how devastating it can be for a pitcher, who feels he has performed pretty well, to be sent down. Shawn Kelley’s a good guy and a solid receiver. Wish I could walk up to him and tell him to hang in there; he’s going to be fine. But telling someone to suck it up is easy; sucking it up in tough moments is, well, tough.
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Of course I meant reliever, not receiver.
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