Blue Jays trade Storen to Mariners for Benoit

Moments after the Toronto Blue Jays wrapped up an extra-innings walk-off win, they announced the acquisition of some relief help.

The Blue Jays traded right-handed reliever Drew Storen along with cash considerations to the Seattle Mariners for fellow right-handed reliever Joaquin Benoit.

Storen came into his first season in Toronto pegged as a potential closer, but lost out on the job to sophomore Roberto Osuna in spring training. He never found his footing with the Blue Jays and was designated for assignment Sunday. The 28-year-old impending free agent owns a 6.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 33 1/3 innings and has made just two appearances since the All-Star break.

"Obviously, this has not been Drew's best season, but he is closely linked to a run of great success pitching in the back end of very good bullpens," Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. "Hopefully this serves as a change of scenery and over the next two months we can get him back on track."

Benoit, also a free agent at the end of the season, has endured his fair share of struggles since coming over from the San Diego Padres in November. He owns a 5.18 ERA and 1.49 WHIP through 24 1/3 innings but has managed to pick up 28 strikeouts.

The 39-year-old has, however, been better of late. He tossed five straight scoreless appearances to start the month before allowing three runs in 2/3 innings last Tuesday against the White Sox.

"I like it, he can fill a late-inning role, he's a veteran guy, he's still got a good arm," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters. "This time of year, with some of the struggles we've had down there, throw a veteran in there that knows what he's doing and knows how to survive, that kind of thing. Hopefully he'll end up doing just what Grilli's done."

It's the second trade of the day for the Blue Jays, who landed outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor-league pitcher Hansel Rodriguez.