The Miami Marlins have optioned left-handed pitcher Mike Dunn to AAA New Orleans, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com:

#Marlins option Mike Dunn to Triple-A. no corresponding move yet

— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) May 25, 2012

Dunn, a 27 year-old with four years pro experience, completed little more than nine innings of work over eleven games this season with the Marlins, giving up thirteen hits, eight walks, and seven earned runs while striking out fourteen. And that was before tonight's outing, where he gave up another four runs.

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Brewers right-handed pitcher Marco Estrada injured himself running the bases Wednesday. At first it was thought to be a right hip flexor strain, but Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has additional details:

Marco Estrada has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right quadriceps strain, and that Mike McClendon will be recalled from Class AAA Nashville on Friday.

Estrada was injured running the bases in the first inning of the Brewers’ 8-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

Bringing up McClendon, a right-handed reliever, would seem to indicate the Brewers are going to fill Estrada’s void — which general manager Doug Melvin said earlier today would be 3-4 starts — from within, possibly with left-hander Manny Parra starting and other relievers filling in behind him.

McClendon was with the Brewers as an injury replacement earlier this year, posting a 10.13 ERA in three appearances. Parra made 74 starts for Milwaukee between 2007 and 2010, but spent 2011 in the minor leagues and has pitched exclusively in relief so far this season.

Check out the coverage of the move over at Brew Crew Ball.

Surprising Start for Kearns Halted, Marlins Opt for Speedy Replacement

The Miami Marlins have placed Austin Kearns on the disabled list with a tight right hamstring and have recalled center fielder Kevin Mattison according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald:

#marlins expected to place of austin kearns on DL, recall of kevin mattison

— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) May 24, 2012

Kearns, 32, is in his twelfth season as a pro, his first with Miami. He was off to a hot start this season, going .375/.444/.646 through fifty-eight plate appearances. Kearns' early success was especially surprising compared to his career line of .256/.352/.420 and this season looks even better compared to his terrible 2011, when he went just .200/.302/.287 in fifty-seven games for the Cleveland Indians.

Mattison, 26, joins the club from AAA New Orleans, where he's hit .252/.320/.424, with thirty-eight hits, nine doubles, five home runs, and fifteen walks through 170 plate appearances. He's stolen six, but been caught six times.

Mattison has three years of minor league service time, and was drafted by the Marlins in the 28th round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft.

O's Sign 35 Year-Old Lefty Romero, Add Depth

The Baltimore Orioles have signed left-handed pitcher J.C. Romero to a minor league deal, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun:

The #Orioles announce they've agreed to terms with LHP J.C. Romero on minor-league deal. Will report to Triple-A Norfolk.

— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) May 24, 2012

Romero, 35, is a fourteen-year vet and has been with six clubs, including seven seasons with the Twins, five with the Phillies, and season-or-less stints with the Rockies, Cardinals, Red Sox, and Angels. He maintains a career 4.15 ERA while striking out 7.2 and walking 5.1 every nine innings.

Britt Ghiroli notes that Romero adds depth:

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Marte to Join Tigers After Two Months on Disabled List

The Detroit Tigers have optioned right-handed pitcher Luke Putkonen to make room for right-handed pitcher Luis Marte, coming of the disabled list tomorrow:

Tigers announce Putkonen optioned, Marte will come off DL on Friday

— DKnobler (@DKnobler) May 24, 2012

Putkonen, 26, was called up to replace Thad Weber on April 26th. Putkonen appeared in six games, going seven and a third innings while giving up a scoreboard-blistering fourteen hits, five walks, and seven runs, earning a 8.59 ERA along the way. Now he'll join AAA Toldeo.

Marte, 25, pitched well enough in Spring Training to make the team, but hurt his left hamstring just before the season and has been on the disabled list since. Marte appeared in four games in the 2011 season, giving up six hits, one walk, and one run while striking out three in three and two-thirds innings.

He threw three scoreless innings on Monday for the Toledo Mud Hens.

The Texas Rangers have claimed left-handed pitcher John Gaub, recently designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times:

#Rangers claim LHP John Gaub, who was designated by #Rays to make room for Sutton

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 24, 2012

Gaub, 27, has barely more than two innings of professional work to his name, where he gave up two hits, two walks, and two runs in a four game stint with the Chicago Cubs last season.

He has six seasons of Minor League experience, four in the Cubs organization and two with the Cleveland Indians. With nearly 230 innings of work, he has a career Minor League ERA of 3.65 and an eye-popping 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Those Ks come at a cost, though, as Gaub walks nearly six every nine innings as well.

The Rays claimed Gaub off waivers from the Cubs in April.

Miami Marlins reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo has received his work visa and is expected to report to extended spring training soon, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Placed on the restricted list for falsifying his identity last September, Oviedo has since then been trapped in legal limbo in his native Dominican Republic, needing a pardon from the U.S. State Department to return to the country.

Oviedo reportedly received the needed pardon yesterday, making him eligible to return to the team, but is still expected to serve an eight-week suspension on his return to the Marlins roster.

The now 30-year-old right-hander has averaged 66 innings pitched in his three seasons as the Marlins closer, amassing a 3.86 ERA, 8.5 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 and 92 saves in that time.

The relief artist former known as Leo Nunez has not pitched in a major league game since September 21.

• Oviedo Receives Visa, to Report Soon | Twitter JonHeymanCBS
  Juan Carlos Oviedo received his work visa and will report to extended spring training soon. ‪#nunez