UPDATED: Shelton up, Vargas out

3:30 p.m. UPDATE: The move is official now, Shelton called up and Vargas sent down.

“With the All-Star break beginning Monday, we will not need a fifth starter until July 25,” GM Jack Zduriencik said in a news release. “Optioning Jason to Tacoma and getting Shelton up here allows us to keep Vargas pitching on schedule and add a bat to our ballclub.”

Manager Don Wakamatsu said Shelton would be used almost entirely at DH, where he’ll fill Mike Sweeney’s role against left-handed pitching. Shelton, a first baseman most of his career, has gotten most of his time at third base at Class AAA Tacoma, although he’s still a project at that position and would see time there with the M’s only in an emergency.

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Most of the Mariners’ position players are on the field parcticing the bunting. For good reason. There haven’t been too many clean bunts lately. Chris Woodward popped one up in Boston, although it went for a sacrifice whent he pitcher didn’t get to it in time. And Ronny Cedeno had a sacrifice two days ago, only because the ball bounced off the bat, which he’d just dropped, and away from the catcher.

No official announcements yet, although Chris Shelton is said to be with the team (he’s not on the field now with the bunters, though) and pitcher Jason Vargas has been sent to Class AAA Tacoma. It leaves the Mariners with a more logical-looking roster of 12 pitchers and 13 position players.

Also no word on whether the signing of shortstop Alex Cintron to a minor league contract is official. One team executive said a few minutes ago that he wasn’t aware of it, although others with the organization Wednesday night said reports fo Cintron’s signing were true.

Tonight’s lineups (with Russell Branyan back in the No. 2 spot in the batting order after hitting third Wednesday):

RANGERS

Ian Kinsler, second base

Michael Young, third base

Josh Hamilton, center field

Andruw Jones, DH

Hank Blalock, first base

Marlon Byrd, right field

David Murphy, left field

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, catcher

Elvis Andrus, shortstop

Right-hander Tommy Hunter (1-1, 3.18)