Seattle, WA (Best E Casino) - The Seattle Mariners optioned pitcher Brandon Morrow to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, to begin converting the reliever into a starting role.

To fill the roster spot, the club recalled pitcher Jared Wells from Tacoma.

Morrow, 24, has been extremely effective out of the bullpen for the Mariners this season. In 40 games Morrow has allowed just eight runs -- six earned -- for a 1.47 earned run average, and posted 10 saves. He has also struck out 47 and walked just 15 in 36 2/3 innings, while carrying a 1-2 record.

But with Seattle (43-69) 27 games behind the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels entering Tuesday's game against Minnesota, the Mariners chose to start stretching Morrow out for longer outings.

"We have long viewed Brandon as a starter," Seattle general manager Lee Pelekoudas said. "He pitched his way onto the team in 2007, giving us an opportunity to acclimate him to the majors in a relief role and, at the start of this season, we thought his greatest value to the team in 2008 was in the bullpen.

"However, as our season progressed and it became obvious we were not going to reach the goals we had entering this year, we began internal discussions on the best time to convert Brandon back to a starting role. We believe that giving him time to stretch out in Tacoma and then, hopefully, make some starts for the big league club before spending the 2008 off-season preparing to come to camp as a starting pitcher for 2009 is the best route for his development."

In two seasons with the Mariners, Morrow has appeared in 100 games and posted a 3.15 ERA with a 4-6 record, 10 saves and 113 strikeouts in 100 innings.

Wells, 26, was acquired from San Diego on May 28 in exchange for Cha Seung Baek. He appeared in two games for the Padres, and allowed two runs in three innings in his first major league stint.