Mariners claim right-hander Jeff Gray from White Sox

CLEVELAND — Jeff Gray, a right-handed reliever, will join the Mariners on Saturday after being claimed off waivers from the White Sox.

No corresponding roster move was announced, but it's logical to assume that Dan Cortes, who has pitched just once since being called up April 25, or Tom Wilhelmsen, who has a 5.59 earned-run average in eight outings and has appeared just twice in mop-up duty since April 23, are the most vulnerable to go down.

Gray, 29, has appeared in parts of four seasons with Oakland and the White Sox. In six games this year, he had a 2.70 ERA, giving up 13 hits in 13-1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and four walks.

"He's got a little bit of experience," manager Eric Wedge said. "He can be a two- or three-inning guy out of the bullpen, maybe even a little more than that. We like his delivery, and he has some action on the ball. It's a good guy for us to take a look at and see if there's a fit here."

No surgery for Aardsma

Closer David Aardsma will not need surgery. Aardsma, diagnosed earlier this week with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament — often a precursor to the dreaded Tommy John surgery — was examined in Los Angeles by noted orthopedist Lewis Yocum.

Yocum then consulted with Mariners team doctor Edward Khalfayan, and it was decided the best course of action is for Aardsma to take a month for rest and rehabilitation, then begin a throwing program.

There is no timetable after that, but Wedge is aware he won't be seeing Aardsma for a long time this year, even in the best case.

Notes

• Reliever Shawn Kelley is back on the comeback trail after taking a day off over the weekend because of a stiff back and arm. Kelley threw Wednesday in Baltimore and then threw a bullpen session Friday. If he responds well, he will head off on a rehabilitation assignment with Class AA Jackson beginning Monday.

• Wedge received good reports on Franklin Gutierrez, who drove in four runs and made a great catch for Tacoma on Thursday night. Gutierrez was to DH on Friday, then travel with the Rainiers to New Orleans for a weekend series.

For the record: W-L: 16-23; W PCT: .410; Streak: L6 Home: 8-11 Road: 8-12 vs. AL West: 6-7 vs. L.A.: 0-0 vs. Oakland: 4-3 vs. Texas: 2-4 vs. AL East: 4-5 vs. AL Cent: 6-11 vs. NL: 0-0 vs. LHP: 5-8 vs. RHP: 11-15 Day: 2-9 Night: 14-14 One-run: 7-7 Extra inngs.: 0-3

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com