The Seattle Mariners acquired relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit from the San Diego Padres on Thursday as the two MLB clubs continue to execute trades at the general managers meetings.
San Diego received minor leaguers Enyel De Los Santos (RHP) and Nelson Ward (INF) in the deal.
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal was the first to report the trade and both the Mariners and Padres officially announced the move on Twitter shortly after. Seattle also announced the deal in a press release.
The #Padres acquire RHP Enyel De Los Santos and INF Nelson Ward from Seattle in exchange for RHP Joaquin Benoit: https://t.co/3u4AIQx5D4
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) November 12, 2015
#Mariners acquire RHP Joaquin Benoit from #Padres in exchange for two minor leaguers. https://t.co/NGRshAc1WN pic.twitter.com/Ee9gNKtwnr
— MarinersPR (@MarinersPR) November 12, 2015
Benoit has been one of the best relievers in the MLB over the past six seasons. The Padres picked up his $7.5 million team option for the 2016 season likely knowing there'd be suitors for him in a possible trade. San Diego isn't exactly built to win in 2016, so there's little reason for them to pay that much money for a setup man.
The right-hander went 6-5 with a 2.34 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 67 games (65 1/3 innings) last season. He's 24-16 with a 2.35 ERA and 42 saves since the 2010 season. San Diego has Craig Kimbrel, who is making $11 million next year, as their closer.
Seattle ranked 25th in the MLB with a 4.15 bullpen ERA in 2015 and traded struggling closer Fernando Rodney to the Chicago Cubs in August. New general manager Jerry Dipoto is looking to improve multiple areas of the team's roster and Benoit will more than likely provide stability to an erratic bullpen.
The Mariners parted ways with De Los Santos and Ward in the deal. The 19-year-old De Los Santos was signed out of the Dominican Republic in July of 2014. He is 6-0 with a 3.47 ERA in 13 minor-league starts. Ward, 23, enjoyed a solid 2015 campaign in his second minor-league season. The infielder logged games at second base, shortstop and third base and batted .278/.365/.436 with 81 runs scored, 9 home runs, 55 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 122 games between Class A Clinton and High Class A Bakersfield.
