The Seattle Mariners made yet another addition to their bullpen Saturday afternoon, acquiring switch-pitcher Pat Venditte from the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named later.
Venditte has spent the 2016 season jumping between Triple-A Buffalo and the majors, though he hasn't appeared in a big-league game since June 12. The 31-year-old has a 5.19 ERA in eight games with the Blue Jays this season, and a 4.37 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 35 appearances with the Bisons.
When he reached the majors with the Athletics in 2015, Venditte became the first ambidextrous pitcher in the big leagues (discounting stunt appearances) since 19th-century star Tony Mullane, who retired in 1893. Venditte typically pitches with the arm that will give him a platoon advantage against the specific hitter; he generally has more success facing left-handed batters as a southpaw.
HITTERS' CAREER SPLITS VS. VENDITTE
| BA | OPS | HR | K | BB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs. RHB as RHP | .237 | .689 | 1 | 9 | 8 |
| vs. LHB as LHP | .175 | .540 | 1 | 18 | 5 |
| vs. RHB as LHP | .346 | 1.118 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Earlier in the afternoon Seattle acquired reliever Arquimedes Caminero from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
