Lloyd McClendon has indicated that Mariners rookie right-hander Taijuan Walker is not assured a starting spot upon his activation from the disabled list. Walker has been on the shelf all year with a shoulder injury and was hit hard in his rehab start Wednesday for Triple-A Tacoma.
McClendon told the Tacoma News-Tribune that Walker will require at least one or two more rehab outings and must perform well to land back in the Seattle rotation.
"If he was healthy in spring training, he'd have to make the club," McClendon explained. "Nothing was given. I think we're under the assumption that he was given a spot on this club, and that's just not the case.
"I want him to do (well). Believe me, I want him here. But he's got to prove that he's healthy. He's got to get the rust off. And he's got to be ready to compete at this level on a consistent basis. It's going to take time."