Padres trade Benoit to Mariners for 2 prospects
The Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres have been the most aggressive teams to kick start the offseason, and the pair concluded the general manager's meetings on Thursday with a trade.
Right-hander reliever Joaquin Benoit heads to Seattle in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Enyel De Los Santos and infielder Nelson Ward.
Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto is eager to turn the Mariners back into contenders, and adding Benoit goes a long way in addressing one of the league's worst bullpens from a season ago.
The 38-year-old posted a 2.34 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 65 1/3 innings last season, and owns a 1.98 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over the last three seasons. Benoit has closer experience, having 50 career converted saves on the resume, and will serve at the back end of the Mariners' pen.
"I feel like this was a target for us as we went into the offseason and I'm very happy to bring him on board," Dipoto said. "There's a lot of offseason left. I don't anticipate this being the last addition we make to our bullpen."
San Diego clears the $8 million remaining on Benoit's deal, while acquiring a pair of Single-A prospects. De Los Santos, 19, was 6-0 with a 3.47 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 13 starts last season. Ward, 23, slashed .278/.365/.436 with nine home runs, 19 doubles, and 13 triples in 122 games, while playing three infield positions.
The trade was the third in as many days for Padres GM A.J. Preller, who anticipates another active winter.
"We'll go out there and look at more trade possibilities and free agents," Preller told reporters. "This gives us additional room."