Left-hander Donnie Hart was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday and left-hander Vidal Nuno was optioned back to the Tides, though he told manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Roger McDowell that he is battling a sore oblique and other nagging injuries and clearly hoped to be placed on the disabled list.
Nuno, who gave up five runs on six hits in just two-thirds of an inning on Monday night, underwent an MRI that determined whether the club would place him on the DL or send him out.
Since the MRI did not reveal an obvious injury, the team optioned him to make room for Hart, but Nuno said that he would be conferring with his agent about his next step -- perhaps an indication that he might resist the demotion.