Mariners place RHP Putz on DL

Apr 2, 2008 - 10:30 PM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners on Wednesday placed closer J.J. Putz on the 15-day disabled list with rib inflammation on his right side.

Putz experienced discomfort on a pitch to Michael Young in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers. Putz gave up a two-run home run to Josh Hamilton, suffering his first blown save since August 1.

An MRI on Wednesday showed that Putz had a mild case of costochondritis, a condition where cartilage is attached to a rib.

Putz pitched in each of the Mariners' first two games of the season, recording a save in their 5-2 win over the Rangers on Opening Day.

Putz, 31, has become one of the game's most reliable closers, recording 76 saves for the Mariners in the last two seasons. Last year, he registered 40 saves in 42 opportunities.

To take Putz's spot on the roster, the Mariners purchased the contract of righthander Roy Corcoran from Class AAA Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League.

Corcoran, 27, was one of the Mariners' final cuts in spring training after going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in five appearances in Cactus League play.

Corcoran was signed by the Mariners as a free agent on November 20 after spending last season at Class AAA Albuquerque, the Philadelphia Phillies' affiliate in the PCL. He was 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA in 53 outings.