SAFECO FIELD -- The Seattle Mariners acquired right-handed pitcher David Phelps from the Miami Marlins in exchange for four minor league prospects on Thursday.
Outfielder Brayan Hernandez and right-handed pitchers Pablo Lopez, Brandon Miller and Lukas Schiraldi were sent to the Marlins in exchange for Phelps. Hernandez, 19, is the top prospect of the group. He signed with the Mariners as an international free agent in 2014 and has been with Single-A Everett.
Phelps isn't expected to be on the roster for tonight's game against the Yankees but will join the club on Friday.
"I'm excited to have him," manager Scott Servais said. "... We've asked a lot of our bullpen and the guys have really responded and thrown the ball great. It's another weapon we can go to down there."
Phelps has previous experience as a starter and is under club control through the 2018 season.
"He’s averaging 94, 95 (mph) with his fastball, has averaged about 11 strikeouts per nine over his last 134 innings," general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "He’s among the hold leaders in MLB over that course of time – opening day 2016 to present. He’s versatile, he can go multiple innings, he can start, he has real stuff. It’s a mid-90s fastball with a well above average curve ball and a cutter that’s really become a weapon for him and allows him to face both the lefts and the rights. He’s a nice guy to have on hand, and from what I understand, a real pro in the clubhouse, too."
Phelps is 2-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 44 appearances with the Marlins this season. Over his last 36 games, Phelps has a 2.19 ERA (9 ER, 37.0 IP) and a .195 batting average against with 39 strikeouts and 19 walks.
"He becomes perhaps the most versatile reliever we have down there, in some ways, because he has the physical ability to go more than one inning, also has the ability to face both the lefts and the rights, and he has the physical stuff to get strikeouts," Dipoto said. "Either in a critical situation with runners on base, or getting through toward the end of the game with Edwin Diaz."
Hernandez was the only top prospect included in the deal by Seattle, but at just 19 years of age he was several seasons away from potentially cracking the Mariners roster.
Photo Caption: CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 15: David Phelps #35 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 15, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)