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Isringhausen Makes Rays' Roster, Going On DL

Tribune file photo by CHRIS URSO

Isringhausen is coming back from shoulder surgery and has pitched only six innings this spring.

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 1, 2009

Updated: 04/01/2009 12:22 pm

PORT CHARLOTTE - The Tampa Bay Rays added pitcher Jason Isringhausen to their 40-man roster today and will put him on the disabled list Sunday along outfielders B.J. Upton and Fernando Perez and reliever Chad Bradford.

The veteran reliever will rehab in St. Petersburg, with no end date specified. Isringhausen is coming back from elbow surgery and has pitched only six innings this spring.

The move essentially buys time for everyone, most notably giving the Rays a solid contingency in case of early bullpen problems.

Upton has been making steady progress in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. Perez is recovering from a dislocated wrist suffered during a spring training game. Bradford is recovering from offseason elbow surgery.

Meantime, manager Joe Maddon said the fifth starter in the pitching rotation is still under discussion, which also means the long relief spot is also in limbo. He added the final bench spot will likely go to Matt Joyce or Justin Ruggiano.

Earlier, infielder Adam Kennedy and five other veteran nonroster invitees were told they won't be on the Opening Day roster. The others are Jon Weber, Ray Sadler, Ray Olmedo, Michel Hernandez and Chris Richard.

All six will accompany the Rays to Philadelphia for this weekend's series, then return to open the season with Triple-A Durham.

There are no real shockers among that group, though there were some scenarios floated in which Kennedy might open with the Rays. He said a week or so ago, however, that he would be willing to go to Durham if necessary because it beats sitting at home waiting for a team to call.

This morning, Kennedy reiterated that he appreciated all the playing time the Rays gave him this spring and expected this outcome.

"It would have been more of a surprise for it to be anything other than Durham," he said. "I can't argue with the at-bats that [manager] Joe [Maddon] gave me and the time on the field. It was a real productive spring, everything I could hope for given the circumstances."

Check back to TBO.com during the day for more updates.

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