Turner designated for assignment by Marlins

PITTSBURGH (AP) Right-hander Jacob Turner, who was once expected to be a key part of Miami's future, was designated for assignment on Tuesday.

The Marlins let Turner go after enduring his struggles as a starter for the past two years. He went 8-19 in 47 games over three seasons with Miami, including 39 starts.

Turner, who is 4-7 with a 5.97 ERA in 20 games this year, was considered a top prospect when Miami acquired him in July 2012 in the five-player trade that sent right-hander Anibal Sanchez to the Detroit Tigers.

''It just came to a point where he wasn't getting any better, wasn't showing any improvement and we felt we couldn't do anything more to help him,'' Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. ''Things like this are always tough but that's part of the business.''

Left-hander Bryan Flynn was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans and will work out of the bullpen.

Redmond said the Marlins have yet to decide who will start Saturday at Cincinnati in what would have been Turner's spot in the rotation.

One possibility is veteran right-hander Brad Penny, who last pitched in the major leagues in 2012. He is 2-2 with a 2.28 ERA in five starts for New Orleans.

The 36-year-old Penny made his major league debut with the Marlins in 2000. He made 22 relief appearances with the San Francisco Giants in 2012 and one start for the Softball Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League last year before deciding to return home to the United States.