Mariners option Noesi to Triple-A; call up Farquhar

CLEVELAND -- Needing to bolster a worn-down bullpen, the Mariners selected right-hander Danny Farquhar from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday and optioned Hector Noesi back to Tacoma.

To make room for Farquhar on the 40-man Major League roster, reliever Stephen Pryor was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. Pryor, sidelined since April 15 with a torn latissimus dorsi muscle, is now eligible to be activated on June 14.

Farquhar, 26, has allowed just one earned run in his last 16 innings in Tacoma and provides Seattle some needed depth after the relief corps was spent in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Yankees.

Noesi made the spot start in that game in place of an injured Aaron Harang and allowed just one unearned run in 4 1/3 innings. Since he won't be able to pitch again for five days, the Mariners sent him down and brought up an available arm in Farquhar after using five relievers to finish up Thursday's win.

"We pretty much used everybody yesterday, so we have to stay on top of their workloads," manager Eric Wedge said. "Farquhar has been throwing well in Triple-A, so he was the guy."

Farquhar was acquired from the Yankees last July in the Ichiro Suzuki trade. He pitched three games for the Blue Jays in 2011, allowing three earned runs in two innings.

The 5-foot-9 Florida native was 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 15 games for Tacoma this season, allowing 17 hits with four walks and 30 strikeouts in 20 innings. Over his last 16 innings, he's held opponents to a .172 average with two walks and 24 strikeouts.

Noesi is scheduled to pitch Tuesday for Tacoma, but he would be available to return to the Mariners if Harang has to go on the disabled list. Harang is currently slated to pitch Tuesday in Anaheim, so Noesi could slide into that spot if needed.

"He was the odd-man out," Wedge said. "We're obviously thrilled with the way he threw the ball yesterday. [Pitching coach Carl Willis] and I talked to him today. That's what we're talking about. That aggressiveness with that stuff and the edge and focus he had out there, that's it. Now he's got to bottle it."

Pryor, meanwhile, has been a little slower to return than hoped, so it made sense to move him to the 60-day DL.

"He tried to play catch the other day and didn't feel great, so we backed him off that a little bit," Wedge said. "For a guy that size, with that injury and the way he throws, it's not the best scenario, let's put it that way. We knew when he started out it was going to be some time, but I don't think we knew how much time."