Luis

Peña

He’ll have to accept the assignment. Pena, 22, had a 4.26 ERA in 76 IP for Single-A Brevard County this season. He still might have a chance of making it as a reliever, but since he’s at least a couple of years away, no team decided he was worth the 40-man roster spot.

If any teams were considering claiming him off waivers, the surgery probably changed their minds. Pena, 22, had a 4.26 ERA in 76 IP for Single-A Brevard County this season.

He was released in order to make room for Randy Messenger on the 4-man roster. Pena was 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in six games (four starts) between Rookie League and Double-A West Tennessee this season. The 26-year-old should find another organization pretty quickly, but now 26 years old, the clock is ticking for a breakthrough.

Jackson desperately needs out of Milwaukee if he’s going to get another look as a fifth starter. He allowed six runs -- three earned -- in eight innings this spring. Pena tossed six scoreless innings this spring and is the one player who figures to rejoin the Brewers prior to September.

Pena has allowed two hits, walked three and struck out four over the five innings. Command remains a problem for him, but the talented right-hander has the potential to make a major impact as a late-game reliever. He could be one of the first pitchers called up by the Brewers this season.

Pena followed up a breakthrough 2007 by posting a 6.93 ERA in 52 relief appearances in Triple-A last year. He has excellent stuff, but his lack of command may always prevent him from making it as a major league reliever.

It’s tough to slip arms like Pena’s through waivers, even when their attached to 6.93 ERAs. The 26-year-old throws in the mid-90s and showed considerable promise in 2007. However, he walked 47 in 49 1/3 innings in Triple-A last year. He’d have to take a massive step forward to contribute this season.

All spent the season in the Brewers’ minor league system. Pena, who was on the 40-man roster before undergoing shoulder surgery a year ago, had a 4.41 ERA in 65 1/3 innings for Single-A Brevard County. The 23-year-old stands some chance of making it as a reliever someday. Meyers, a Cubs’ prospect several years ago, finished with a 3.43 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings while serving mostly as a reliever for Triple-A Nashville.

Pena, who was claimed off waivers from the Brewers a month ago, gave up seven runs and walked seven in four innings. Thomas was even worse, allowing 11 runs in five innings. No one in this list is a good bet to help the Mariners at all this season.