BALTIMORE — Veteran right-hander Joaquin Benoit returned Tuesday to the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen mix after passing a final test on his sore shoulder in a pre-game bullpen workout.
“It went well,” he said. “You can tell people that I’ll be available tonight.”
The Mariners made the move official shortly thereafter by activating Benoit from the disabled list after clearing space by optioning right-handed reliever Mayckol Guaipe to Triple-A Tacoma.
Benoit, 38, hasn’t pitched since April 21 because of shoulder inflammation but immediately reclaims his duty as the primary set-up reliever for closer Steve Cishek.
“It just shuffles guys down a little bit,” manager Scott Servais said. “You have to keep in mind that Benoit is not going to go out there and pitch three or four days in a row. That’s not going to happen.
“He’s going to need some time to get his legs and his arm underneath him and build from there.”
Benoit began the season with four scoreless one-inning appearances before blowing a save when he surrendered a two-run homer to Mike Napoli on April 21 at Cleveland. The Mariners eventually won that game 10-7 in 10 innings.
Guaipe, 25, allowed six runs (four earned) and eight hits in 71/3 innings over five appearances since his April 25 recall from Tacoma to replace Benoit on the active roster.
The Mariners acquired Benoit on Nov. 12, 2015 from San Diego in a trade for two minor-league players.
Benoit has a 3.84 ERA over 666 games in a 15-year career with five clubs, including a 2.34 ERA in 393 games since missing 2009 season while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery (Tommy John surgery).
Other reliever updates:
¦ Lefty Charlie Furbush, 30, is tentatively scheduled to pitch to hitters under simulated game conditions Thursday at Tacoma in his recovery from tendinitis in his left shoulder biceps.
Barring any setbacks, Furbush is then scheduled to join the players taking part in extended spring training in Arizona. He has not pitched since July 7, 2015.
¦ Right-hander Tony Zych, 25, did not make the trip and is continuing his recovery from tendinitis in his rotator cuff by playing catch in Seattle. He hasn’t pitched since May 1.
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