Mariners News: M’s Deal Joaquin Benoit to Toronto for Drew Storen

The Mariners and Blue Jays swapped struggling relievers on Tuesday night.

The Seattle Mariners dealt Joaquin Benoit to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night in exchange for Drew Storen and cash considerations. The Mariners announced the trade via twitter.

Storen has struggled mightily in his first season with the Blue Jays, and was recently designated for assignment. He heads to the Emerald City having gone 1-3 while posting a dismal 6.21 ERA across 38 appearances in 2016. He has registered a 32:10 strikeout to walk ratio through 33.1 innings pitched. Storen’s biggest issue this year has been allowing 11.6 hits per 9 innings and 1.6 home runs per 9 innings.

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On the surface, this acquisition is a bit of a curious one. Ironically, Storen’s last outing with Toronto came against the Mariners, and his poor showing was probably the final straw for the Blue Jays. Seattle touched up Storen for 3 runs on 3 hits in 1 inning of work this past weekend.

There’s no denying that the 28-year-old right-hander has been thoroughly unimpressive this season, but he has been a very productive hurler in years past. Storen stent six seasons pitching out of the Washington Nationals’ bullpen. Overall, he exited the Nation’s Capital with a 21-13 record, a 3.02 ERA and 95 saves through 355 career appearances.

Storen’s best season as a pro came as a 23-year-old in 2011. In just his second season in the big leagues, the former first round pick went 6-3 with a 2.75 ERA and 43 saves. He worked a career high 75.1 innings and appeared in 73 games with the Nat’s.

2015 was another quality season for the Stanford alum. He saved 29 games and posted a 3.44 ERA across 58 appearances with Washington. Storen struck out a career best 11.0 batters per 9 innings, and allowed just 1.109 walks/hits per inning.

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Joaquin Beniot was brought in to serve as the Mariners’ setup man in 2016, but that plan has never really worked out. Benoit leaves the M’s having gone 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA across 26 appearances. He has posted a 28:15 strikeout to walk ratio through 24.1 innings pitched.

The 39-year-old did have a stint on the disabled list this year, but injuries appeared to have very little to do with his ineffectiveness. Benoit had trouble keeping the ball in the yard and keeping the ball in the strike zone. Failing in one of those aspects is problematic, but failing in both can be disastrous.

Prior to 2016, Benoit went 24-16 with a 2.35 ERA through his previous 388 appearances. Obviously those are superb numbers, and he could easily become a solid contributor out of the Blue Jays’ bullpen during the final two months of the season.

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Tonight’s trade is another example of Jerry Dipoto taking a chance on a relief pitcher who is having a down year but has had success in the past. Steve Cishek, Nick Vincent and Tom Wilhelmsen have all worked out well for Dipoto and the Mariners this season. Hopefully Storen will follow suit and be a useful arm for the M’s down the stretch.