Mariners Acquire Three Pitchers from Blue Jays for RHP Mark Lowe

SEATTLE, Wash. - Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced the club has acquired left-handed pitchers Rob Rasmussen, Jake Brentz and Nick Wells from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Mark Lowe.

·  Rob Rasmussen, LHP, acquired in trade with Toronto (was on AAA Buffalo roster)

·  Nick Wells, LHP, acquired in trade with Toronto (was on rookie-level Bluefield roster)

·  Jake Brentz, LHP, acquired in trade with Toronto (was on rookie-level Bluefield roster)

Rasmussen will go on the 40-man roster, leaving the Mariners 40-man full at 40 players. A decision on which team/affiliate all three players will join will be announced at a later time. A corresponding roster move for Lowe on the 25-man roster will also be announced at a later time.

Rasmussen, 26, appeared in one game with Toronto earlier this year and was 4-1 with one save and a 2.36 ERA (11 ER, 42.0 IP) with 40 strikeouts in 34 games including one start with AAA Buffalo in the International League. In 12.1 Major League innings over the last two seasons, he has a 2.92 ERA (4 ER, 12.1 IP) with 14 strikeouts. He was originally drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 2nd round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of California, Los Angeles. During his minor league career, he is 28-34 with a 3.72 ERA (214 ER, 517.2 IP) with 438 strikeouts in 157 games including 78 starts over 6 minor league seasons in the Miami, Houston, Los Angeles (NL) & Toronto organizations.

Wells, 19, was 1-2 with a 4.78 ERA (17 ER, 32.0 IP) with 31 strikeouts in 7 starts for Rookie level Bluefield in the Appalachian League this season. He was originally drafted by Toronto in the 3rd round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft out of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. In two minor league seasons, he is 2-5 with a 5.26 ERA (39 ER, 66.2 IP) with 49 strikeouts. Wells is listed as the Blue Jays No. 28 prospect by Baseball America

Brentz, 20, was 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA (10 ER, 22.0 IP) with 16 strikeouts in 6 starts for Rookie level Bluefield in the Appalachian League. He was originally drafted by Toronto in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft out of Parkway South High School in Manchester, Missouri. In three minor league seasons, he is 1-4 with a 4.80 ERA (37 ER, 69.1 IP) with 58 strikeouts in 27 games including 12 starts.

Lowe, 32, was 0-1 with a 1.00 ERA (4 ER, 36.0 IP) with 47 strikeouts in 34 games with Seattle. His 1.00 ERA is the 2nd-best in the Majors amongst relievers behind Kansas City's Wade Davis (0.41). He signed with Seattle as a minor league free agent on Dec. 19, 2014 and began the season in AAA Tacoma where he was 0-1 with a 1.00 ERA (1 ER, 9.0 IP) in 7 relief appearances. In parts of 10 Major League seasons with Seattle, Texas, Los Angeles (AL) & Cleveland, he is 8-22 with a 3.80 ERA (134 ER, 317.1 IP) with 289 strikeouts. He was originally drafted by Seattle in the 5th round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft in 2004.