SEATTLE -- The Red Sox, in a move that caught no one by surprise, designated left-hander Chris Capuano for assignment Wednesday to make room on the 25-man roster for Clay Buchholz, who came off the disabled list and is scheduled to start Wednesday night against the Mariners.

Capuano, 35, signed with the Red Sox a week into spring training after Ryan Dempster's surprise announcement that he would not pitch this season. A starter his entire career, Capuano initially experienced success coming out of the bullpen primarily as a long man, holding opponents scoreless in his first 15 innings, spanning 12 appearances.

But he was used sparingly this month, pitching just three times since June 6, and allowed 14 hits and 10 earned runs in just 4 innings in June for a 22.50 ERA.

Capuano's last appearance came Monday in a mop-up role in Boston's 12-3 loss to the Mariners, in which he was charged with five runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox owe him slightly more than $1 million on the remainder of his one-year, $2.25 million contract. Capuano, who has pitched with five major-league teams, doesn't figure to remain unemployed for long.

Overall, he was 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA (16 ER/31.2 IP), 15 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 28 relief appearances for Boston this year.