Mariners roster moves: Wade Miley to DL, Steve Johnson DFA’d, 2 relievers recalled from AAA Tacoma

The Mariners made a series of roster moves on Friday afternoon before their game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The most notable was placing left-hander Wade Miley on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder impingement. It’s retroactive to June 13.

“It’s been nagging for me a couple of weeks now in my last couple of starts, but I was able to bounce back,” Miley said. “It just never bounced back after my last start.”

There was some hope that Miley could avoid being placed on the disabled list. But with Seattle’s bullpen so overworked, the Mariners were in no position to  juggle starts in hopes Miley would be ready.

“I wasn’t recovering like I wanted to, but I thought I was still going to pitch on Saturday,” Miley said. “Then I thought maybe Sunday, maybe Monday. But with the way it’s worked out, they went ahead and made the move.”

The belief is that Miley should be ready to go when he’s eligible to return from the DL on June 28.

“We thought it was best to shut him down and give him a chance to regroup,” Servais said. ” If everything goes well, he’ll only miss a couple of starts.”

Miley is 6-3 with a 5.28 ERA (45 ER, 76.2 IP) in 13 starts this season. He had won six decisions in his last nine starts, but had also benefitted from strong run support, particularly in the Mariners’ improbable 10-run comeback win against the Padres. In his last outing against the Rangers, he pitched five innings, giving up three runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Seattle recalled two relievers from Class AAA Tacoma: right-hander Jonathan Aro and left-hander David Rollins. To make room for the extra reliever on the 25-man roster, right-hander Steve Johnson was designated for assignment.

“Steve threw the ball well in spots,” Servais said. “The guys we brought up, I feel better about their length opportunities in our pen. Our bullpen is just beat up right now and we thought getting a couple of fresh arms in our right now would help.”

But one of those relievers will likely be with the team for only Friday’s game. Why? Well, right-hander Adrian Sampson is also here in Boston with the team. He will take Miley’s spot in the rotation and most likely make the start on Saturday night. Sampson will go in Johnson’s vacated spot on the 40-man roster. That means either Aro or Rollins would be optioned back to Tacoma on Saturday to make room for Sampson. The roster shifting gives Seattle an extra option on Friday, which is useful.

Servais wouldn’t confirm that scenario.

“Tomorrow’s starter is to be determined,” he said.

Since the roster move for Sampson isn’t official, there is not reason to confirm it. It would allow the Mariners some room for maneuvering if something strange happened on Friday night and they had to change their plans.

Sampson, 24, was scheduled to pitch on Sunday for Tacoma. In 13 starts for the Rainiers, he’s 7-4 with a 3.25 ERA. In 80 1/3 innings, he’s struck out 61 batters and walked 13.

Aro, 25, appeared in 22 games with Tacoma, including a spot start. He’s 2-2 with a save and a 2.45 ERA. He’s had nine scoreless outings  in his last 11 relief appearances. The Mariners acquired Aro from the Red Sox along with Miley in exchange for reliever Carson Smith, who is out of the season with Tommy John surgery, and Roenis Elias, who will start on Friday.

Rollins, 26, has made 22 relief appearances for the Rainiers. He’s 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA. In 26 1/3 innings pitched, he’s struck out 22 batters and issued just one walk.

“I started working on my curveball and got away from my slider,” he said. “It gives me a little more depth. It’s been helping me a lot against lefties and some on righties. My velocity has been down a little, but it’s been kind of a blessing because I’ve actually had to learn how to pitch with 90-92 mph as opposed to 95-96 mph. I’m just mixing in pitches, keeping them off balance, going in on them and moving their feet. I’ve been getting them on pitches that I want them to swing at.”