SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners designated right-hander
Kevin Jarvis for assignment Monday, then waited to see if they will
have to cover his $4.25 million contract.
Jarvis, who went 1-0 with an 8.31 ERA in eight relief
appearances this season, joined the Mariners in the six-player
trade that sent infielder Jeff Cirillo to San Diego in January.
The Mariners recalled lefty Matt Thornton from Triple-A Tacoma,
and it's likely they'll bring back right-hander Rafael Soriano from
a rehab assignment in the minors within the next week.
Though the Mariners are 6-13 and lost five straight before
Monday night's rainout at Baltimore, general manager Bill Bavasi
said it's not fair to pin the struggles on Jarvis.
"We're just trying to bring in fresh arms," Bavasi said. "The
trouble we're going through right now does not rest on Kevin
Jarvis' shoulders at all. We're just trying to get our pitching
sorted out."
Jarvis is due $4.25 million in the final year of a $9 million,
three-year contract he signed after leading San Diego with 12 wins
in 2001. Slowed by elbow trouble, he's won seven games over the
last three seasons.
The Mariners have 10 days to decide whether to send Jarvis to
the minors, but he has enough service time to block that move. The
team's alternatives are to trade or release him.
"We're just trying to get better," Bavasi said. "At this
point, Kevin might fit in better with another club than he does
here."
The 34-year-old Jarvis has allowed 20 hits in 13 innings,
including eight hits and seven earned runs in three innings over
his last two outings.
He has pitched with Cincinnati (1994-97), Detroit (1997),
Minnesota (1997), Oakland (1999), Colorado (2000) and San Diego
(2001-03). His career numbers are 34-46 in 172 games -- 114 starts --
with a 5.88 ERA. He has three shutouts and one save.
The 27-year-old Thornton was 1-1 with a 7.07 ERA in three starts
with Tacoma. In going 10 innings over his past two starts, he is
1-0 with a 3.60 ERA, allowing five hits with 10 strikeouts.
Thornton was Seattle's first-round selection, the 22nd overall
pick, in the June 1998 draft. He was expected to join the team in
Baltimore and be available to make his major league debut, but the
game was rained out.