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The San Diego Padres have designated Jeff Suppan for assignment to make room for top prospect Yasmani Grandal, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com.
#Padres official roster moves: Jeff Suppan is DFA'd, Yasmani Grandal is promoted from Tucson.
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Spending all of 2011 at the Kansas City Royals' Triple-A affiliate, the 37-year-old Suppan signed a minor league contract with the Padres in early February.
Following injuries to Corey Luebke and Joseph Wieland, the veteran right-hander found himself in the Padres rotation at the beginning of May, but only managed to reach the sixth inning in one of his six starts. Overall, Suppan amassed a 5.28 ERA in 30 2/3 innings with just 2.1 K/9 to go with 3.8 BB/9.
Not able to find success in the ultimate pitcher's ballpark, Petco Park, it is unlikely Suppan will be able to latch on with another big league club, so he may very well accept his minor league assignment.
Suppan has a career 4.70 ERA, 4.9 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 17 big league seasons.