SEATTLE — As anticipated, the first wave of September reinforcements joined the Seattle Mariners prior to Friday’s series opener against Oakland at Safeco Field.
In addition to putting just-acquired pitcher Mike Leake on the active roster and activating outfielder Jarrod Dyson from the disabled list, the Mariners promoted five players from Triple-A Tacoma.
So seven new bodies in all.
By placing reliever David Phelps on the disabled list because of renewed elbow problems, the Mariners were able to recall reliever Dan Altavilla before he served the required 10 days after an optional assignment.
The Mariners also recalled reliever Ryan Garton and starting pitcher Andrew Moore from Tacoma. They also added catcher Mike Marjama to their 40-man roster and recalled him from the Rainiers.
Reliever Shea Simmons was activated from the 60-day disabled list and recalled him from a rehab assignment at Tacoma.
Adding Marjama and Simmons required corresponding space-clearing moves, which the Mariners achieved by sending pitcher Christian Bergman to Tacoma on an outright assignment and by placing pitcher Sam Gaviglio on waivers.
Gaviglio was claimed by Kansas City.
“Obviously, the bullpen arms are a welcome addition,” manager Scott Servais said. “Those guys will all get a chance to pitch, and they’re going to pitch in meaningful spots in games. Some may be early; some may be late.
“We’re going to need a couple of guys to step up, there’s no doubt.”
Leake, 29, started Friday against the Athletics. He was acquired Wednesday in a trade from St. Louis for minor-league infielder Rayder Ascanio.
Servais confirmed Leake will replace Marco Gonzales in the rotation at least for one cycle. Gonzales will now pitch as a long reliever.
Dyson, 33, started Friday in center field. It was his first action since a strained right groin muscle forced him to the disabled list after an Aug. 16 game against Baltimore.
Phelps, 30, returns to the disabled list for the second time in less than four weeks because of an impingement in his elbow. He left Wednesday’s game at Baltimore when the problem resurfaced.
“He said it’s the same thing,” Servais said. “He’s fine warming up in the bullpen, but in the game, he tries to jump on it — the other day, he was trying to throw a front-door cutter, which puts a lot of torque on your elbow.
“Right away he felt it. That’s the same thing he felt last time.”
Altavilla, 24, was optioned to Tacoma after pitching three innings in last Sunday’s loss to the Yankees in New York. He is 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in 31 appearances this season in four previous big-league tours.
Moore, 23, is back for a fourth big-league tour. Previously, he was 1-3 with a 6.34 ERA in four games.
Simmons, 26, joins the active roster for the first time. He opened the season on the disabled list because of a strained right elbow but made 13 rehab appearances over the last two months with three different minor-league clubs.
“He had a lot of stuff go on with his arm,” Servais said. “He actually had some lower body stuff bugging him as well. We’re going to be careful with him. His stuff has been good, but you probably won’t see him on back-to-back days.”
Garton, 27, and Marjama, 28, were assigned to Tacoma after being acquired from Tampa Bay in an Aug. 6 trade. Garton was 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in seven games, while Marjama batted .169 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 21 games.
Bergman, 29, was designated for assignment after pitching Monday and Wednesday in relief against Baltimore. After clearing waivers, he was sent to the Rainiers on an outright assignment. He could return next week Tacoma concludes its season.
Gaviglio, 27, was 3-5 with a 4.62 ERA this season in 12 big-league games, but he was pitching at Tacoma when claimed on waivers by Kansas City.
On the mend
Long-time ace Felix Hernandez threw a bullpen workout Friday afternoon as the next step in his recovery from the latest onset of bursitis in his shoulder.
Lefty James Paxton, who appeared to supplant Hernandez this season as the club’s No. 1 starter, is scheduled to test his recovery from a strained left pectoral muscle by throwing a bullpen workout prior to Saturday’s game.
Servais said the tentative plan for both pitchers is two bullpen workouts, and then a simulated game of two-to-three innings. Thereafter, barring setbacks, each would rejoin the rotation.
That roughly projects as a two-week timetable.
“If it gets to the point where we get them in games,” Servais said, “they’re not going to go out there and throw six innings the first time out. You’re going to have to build them up a little bit.
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