Miami Marlins Roster Moves: Jon Rauch Designated for Assignment; Duane Below Receives Call Up

May 17, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Jon Rauch (60) throws during the eighth inning against thenArizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

After another loss for the Miami Marlins, the team made another roster move, keeping the charter going back-and-forward from Miami to New Orleans busy. The team designated reliever Jon Rauch for assignment and called up left hander Duane Below.

The move was made to get another long relief option in the majors for the Fish after Wade LeBlanc had to go four innings for the Marlins in a night starter Kevin Slowey only pitched three innings.

Duane Below owns a 2.68 ERA in 47 innings between the Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins Triple-A affiliates. The Marlins claimed Below off of waivers near the end of April and stashed him away as a potential fit in either the Marlins rotation or bullpen should a spot open up.

I mentioned Below as an option to receive a call-up to the Marlins in case the team decided to move Alex Sanabia out of the rotation. While Below will be used out of the bullpen as a long relief option right away, he could become an option for the Marlins rotation if the injured players are out any longer and Sanabia’s struggles continue.

Rauch signed a one-year, $1MM deal with the Marlins in February, but struggled through the first two months of the season. Rauch held a 7.56 ERA in 16 2/3 innings for the Fish this season, making  15 appearances. Although Rauch’s ERA was extremely high, his FIP was a respectable 3.41, indicating he struggled with some bad luck with his .393 BABIP.

Rauch owns a career 3.88 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 over 594 big league innings. I would be shocked if Rauch clears waivers, as there is likely to be some team that wants to take a ticket on a seasoned veteran bullpen arm.

With Rauch being designated for assignment, the Marlins 40-man roster now sits at 39. The Marlins likely won’t fill this empty spot until one of their many players on the 60-day disabled list return.