Blue Jays trade Storen to Mariners for right-handed reliever Benoit

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays traded right-handed reliever Drew Storen and cash considerations to the Seattle Mariners late Tuesday night in exchange for right-handed pitcher Joaquin Benoit.

Storen struggled with the Blue Jays this season and was designated for assignment on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Storen was 1-3 with 32 strikeouts and a 6.21 earned-run average in 38 relief appearances with Toronto. He was acquired by the Blue Jays from Washington on Jan. 8, 2016 in exchange for outfielder Ben Revere.

Benoit, 39, was 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 15 walks in 26 relief appearances with Seattle this season.

“He can fill a late-inning role,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “He’s a veteran guy. He’s still got a good arm.

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“This time of year, with some of the struggles we’ve been having down there, you throw a veteran in there who knows what he’s doing, knows how to survive, that type of thing. Hopefully he’ll end up (performing) just like what (Jason) Grilli has done.”

In 15 major league seasons, Benoit is 55-43 with a 3.87 ERA in 687 career games, including 55 career starts. He was acquired by Seattle from San Diego in exchange for right-hander Enyel De Los Santos and infielder Nelson Ward in November, 2015.

The Canadian Press