Padres News: Pirela Sent Down, LHP Michael Kirkman Recalled
The San Diego Padres have made another move as the team has sent down Jose Pirela and recalled left-handed pitcher Michael Kirkman from Triple-A El Paso. The Bullpen has been over worked in recent games and the Padres could use all the arms they can get in the pen.
Kirkman has over 100 innings of major league service time with the Texas Rangers but hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2014. This year for El Paso Kirkman has a 4.50 ERA in six innings of relief. Cory Mazzoni was DFA’d to make room on the 40-man roster for Kirkman. Mazzoni was acquired in the Alex Torres deal from the Mets and now may be claimed by any other team.
Padres option Pirela, select LHP Michael Kirkman from El Paso. DFA Cory Mazzoni.
— Dennis Lin (@sdutdennislin) April 26, 2016
Pirela was just a victim of the bullpen woes. He looked decent at the plate and will surely be an option again for the team at some point this season. The right handed hitting Pirela at least got his feet wet in the National League after coming over in an offseason trade with the Yankees. Pirela went 1-5 with two strike outs in his limited chances.
Padres management has to be upset with all the injuries and the lack of production from the starting staff. The team has yet to have anyone in the rotation go deep in a game and that really taxes the bullpen. The Padres pen was already a weak point on the team, putting too much pressure on them could be disastrous. We have seen that already as the bullpen imploded this weekend.
Kirkman, a reliever, signed with the Padres in February. Has a 4.98 ERA over parts of five seasons with Texas. Last pitched in MLB in ’14.
— Dennis Lin (@sdutdennislin) April 26, 2016
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