Marmol accepts Minor League assignment

DENVER -- Newly acquired Dodgers reliever Carlos Marmol cleared outright waivers, accepted a Minor League assignment and already threw a bullpen session Thursday at the team's Camelback Ranch-Glendale complex to work out some mechanical flaws.

Although technically Marmol was assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque, first he will work with Minor League pitching coordinator Rafael Chaves in Arizona. He might pitch for the Isotopes, or he could just meet the Dodgers when they open a three-game series in Arizona on Monday.

Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said he spoke with Marmol, viewed video of Thursday's bullpen session and reported the pitcher is eager to regain his form from 2010, when he saved 38 games for the Cubs.

"We think it's just small things, like his posture," Honeycutt said. "He sounded excited."

Marmol was acquired Tuesday from the Cubs along with financial considerations that included an additional $209,700 in international signing space to the team cap.

In return, the Cubs received reliever Matt Guerrier, who like Marmol had been designated for assignment last week. Marmol traveled to Arizona on Wednesday.

The Dodgers are hopeful they can salvage Marmol, whom they believe needs, in addition to the mechanical tweaks, a change of scenery after losing the Cubs' closer role and becoming a target of Wrigley Field critics.

"We're not going to totally make over the guy," said manager Don Mattingly, who also spoke to Marmol. "Maybe we can catch lightning in a bottle."

The Dodgers pick up a net $500,000 salary in the transaction, which management believes is a small risk for the potential upside of a former closer they believe is healthy and still throws in the mid-90s with a nasty slider.

Marmol was an All-Star in 2008.