Major League Baseball

Brewers send Suppan to bullpen

Published Apr. 25, 2010 7:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

Brewers right-hander Jeff Suppan has been removed from the rotation in the fourth and final year of his $42 million contract in favor of Chris Narveson.

Suppan opened the year on the disabled list with neck pain. He went 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA in two appearances as the fifth starter, including being booed off the field after giving up six runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings in Friday night's 8-1 loss to Chicago.

Suppan says his results haven't been there, but he feels like he's making good pitches.

``I'm just trying to continue to work on what I need to work on to go out there and pitch,'' Suppan said. ``I'll go to the bullpen and help out any way I can.''

Suppan said he understood the reasoning behind the move, and declined to say whether he felt two starts were enough to justify the decision. He went 7-12 with a 5.29 ERA last year.

``They have their reasons and they have their thoughts, and I respect that,'' he said. ``They make the decisions, so like I said, I'll go down to the bullpen and work on what I need to work on.''

Brewers manager Ken Macha said he told Suppan that the move wasn't permanent, but that the team will give Narveson several turns in the rotation after going 2-0 in four starts late last year.

Suppan last pitched in relief on Aug. 26, 2003, with Boston and has only made 16 relief appearances in his career.