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The Mariners acquired reliever Arquimedes Caminero from the Pirates in exchange for a player to be named later and a conditional player to be named later, the club announced Saturday.
In the corresponding roster move, the Mariners designated Blake Parker for assignment.
Caminero, 29, has a fastball that averages 97.7 mph, but he has trouble commanding it at times. While he is making close to the league minimum and is a controllable asset, most teams likely passed on Caminero as an option to add off waivers.
Caminero, who isn’t arbitration eligible until 2018, had a solid 2015 campaign, pitching to a 3.62 ERA and 3.80 FIP over 74.2 innings with the Pirates. This season, he’s posted a 3.51 ERA but a 4.74 FIP over 41.0 innings.
Pittsburgh lost Mark Melancon before the non-waiver trade deadline, but now has a bullpen that features Felipe Rivero and Antonio Bastardo. The move could allow the Pirates to move Jeff Locke to the bullpen and have a prospect take his spot in the starting rotation, according to MLB.com’s Adam Berry.
Seattle’s bullpen has pitched well this season, collectively posting a 3.76 ERA, which ranks sixth in the American League.