Mariners starting pitcher Erik Bedard is going on the disabled list yet again, this time because of inflammation in his left shoulder according to AP reports. Left-hander Jason Vargas was called up from Triple-A Tacoma to take his place:
The move came less than 24 hours after Bedard lasted just three innings and threw 81 pitches in Seattle's 10-3 loss to Cleveland.
After Saturday's game, Bedard met with manager Don Wakamatsu and Zduriencik and admitted there was some discomfort in his troublesome pitching shoulder.
"I know he's trying to go out there and do the best he can. He just feels like he cannot get the command of the fastball," Wakamatsu said. "We're looking from this point forward [of] can we get him back on the field and can we get some more starts out of him."
The team plans to use medication and rest as its treatment plan this time. Bedard already missed a month in June and July with shoulder inflammation and has made just four starts since June 7.
Bedard is 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA so far this season and was considered the Mariners best possible trade chip if they decided to be sellers at the deadline. The Mariners are 7.5 games back in the AL West and 6.5 games back in the Wildcard race so losing one of their best starting pitchers could help them decide to trade off some of their veterans and rebuild for next year. Either way, one of the top available starting pitchers is now off the market.