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Mariners send Taijuan Walker to minors

Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Taijuan Walker's return to the majors was short lived.

The Seattle Mariners optioned the struggling starter to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday to make room for the recently acquired Arquimedes Caminero, the team announced.

Walker, 23, made his return from the disabled list on Saturday after battling foot tendinitis for over a month. He lasted only four innings and gave up seven hits including six earned runs in a loss against the Los Angeles Angels.

After getting off to a terrific start, the young right-hander has been widely inconsistent this season for the Mariners. He's posted the highest fielding independent pitching of his career (4.87) and has issued an alarming amount of home runs (19) in only 90 innings pitched.

Mariners manager Scott Servais echoed that thought, saying the decision makes the team better down the stretch.

''Where we're at right now as a team and as an organization, I mean his last 13 starts he's had like three quality starts,'' Servais told The Associated Press.

''It may be different if we were 10 or 15 games below .500. We're not thanks to the guys in that clubhouse who continue to play good baseball and we're a few games over. It's about winning and who gives us the best chance to go out and compete and give us the best chance to win next time out.''

Caminero, meanwhile, will take Walker's spot on the 25-man roster. The hard-throwing reliever was acquired on Saturday from the Pittsburgh Pirates for two players to be named later.

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