Cleveland, OH – A month after serving a stint as the team's closer, the Cleveland Indians optioned reliever Vinnie Pestano to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.
The move was made to accommodate the Indians' addition of lefty specialist Marc Rzepczynski, acquired by the club in a trade with St. Louis on Tuesday. Rzepczynski will be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox.
Pestano put together two straight effective seasons as a setup man for the Indians in 2011 and 2012, with the right-hander finishing second in the American League with 36 holds last year while posting a 2.57 earned run average over 70 appearances. His ERA has risen to 4.05 in 34 games this season, however, and he's allowed six home runs in 33 1/3 innings pitched.
The 28-year-old did convert six consecutive save opportunities while filling in for injured closer Chris Perez in June, though.
Rzepczynski has also struggled this season, allowing nine runs and 16 hits over 10 1/3 innings with the Cardinals and spending a good portion of the campaign with Triple-A Memphis.
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