MIAMI -- The Marlins have added an experienced left-hander to give them relief depth. But they will have to wait a little bit before he's ready to join the big league club.
Joe Beimel has signed a Minor League deal with Miami, and the 39-year-old is in the process of reporting to extended spring camp at the organization's Roger Dean Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla.
A 13-year veteran, Beimel recently worked out for club after he spent the past two years with the Mariners. In 2015, the southpaw threw 47 1/3 innings in 53 games. Beimel's ERA was 3.99, and left-handed hitters had a .280 batting average against him.
The Marlins designated Craig Breslow on Wednesday, and they currently are the only club in the Majors not carrying a lefty reliever. When the season opened, Miami had Breslow and Chris Narveson as two left-handers in its bullpen.
On Wednesday, manager Don Mattingly acknowledged he would like to have at least one lefty, but at this point, the Marlins are going with what they believe are their best collection of relievers -- all right-handers, with most of them throwing upward of 95 mph.
More lefty relief help will come when Mike Dunn, who has been on the disabled list all season with a strained lefty forearm, is reinstated. Dunn is on track to return in late May or early June.
Beimel offers plenty of experience, having appeared in 676 Major League games with 379 strikeouts and 272 walks. He broke in with the Pirates in 2001, and he's also pitched for the Twins, Rays, Dodgers, Nationals, Rockies and Mariners.