PEORIA, Ariz. — It appears the Seattle Mariners will start the season without a left-handed pitcher in their bullpen after placing Cesar Jimenez on the 15-day disabled list and optioning Garrett Olson to Triple-A Tacoma.

Seattle also sent right-handed pitcher Randy Messenger and infielder Chris Shelton to its minor-league camp.

Jimenez was placed on the DL with biceps tendinitis, retroactive to March 29. Manager Don Wakamatsu says the team wants Jimenez to be able to throw two innings out of the bullpen and he's not at that point yet.

Olson struggled in two of his last three spring relief appearances, including giving up two runs in two innings on Tuesday.

Shelton was a spring training star, hitting .460 with three homers and nine RBIs in 25 games, but was unlikely to make the roster from the start with veterans Russell Branyan and Mike Sweeney already in place at first base.