The Mariners Saturday acquired 29-year-old RHP Arquimedes Caminero from Pittsburgh and switch-handed pitcher Pat Venditte, 31, from Toronto. Seattle sent a player to be named later and a conditional player to be named later to the Pirates for Caminero, and a player to be named later to the Blue Jays for Venditte.
To make room for Caminero on the on the 40-man roster, the Mariners designated RHP Blake Parker for assignment. They also designated RHP Donn Roach to make room for Venditte. Seattle’s 40-man roster is full.
Caminero went 1-2 with one save and a 3.51 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 39 relief appearances with the Pirates. In his past 21 appearances, he has a 2.13 ERA with 19 strikeouts. He made three rehab appearances with AA Indianapolis after being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quad (May 25-June 11).
In parts of four MLB seasons, Caminero is 6-4 with one save and a 3.86 ERA with 125 strikeouts in 131 games, all in relief, with Miami (2013-14) and Pittsburgh (2015-16). He was signed in 2005 by the Marlins as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic.
Venditte is the first known full-time ambidextrous pitcher in major league history. ESPN did an E:60 video feature on Venditte here.
Venditte will report to AAA Tacoma. He posted a 5.19 ERA in eight relief efforts with Toronto this season. In 25 games with AAA Buffalo, Venditte went 2-1 with a 4.37 ERA. He reached the majors last season for the first time with Oakland, when he pitched 28.2 innings in 26 games.
In parts of two MLB seasons with Oakland (2015) and Toronto (2016), Venditte is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 34 career games. Over nine minor league season with the Yankees, Athletics and Blue Jays organizations, Venditte was 20-23 with a 2.54 ERA. In 2008 draft, he was selected in the 20th round by the Yankees out of Creighton University.
Parker, 31, appeared in one game with Seattle this season, tossing one scoreless inning in relief vs. Boston last Thursday. In 38 appearances with AAA Tacoma, Parker went 1-2 with 19 saves and a 2.72 ERA. In parts of three MLB seasons, he compiled a record of 2-3 with a 3.63 ERA.
Roach, 26, went 2-0 with an 8.44 ERA in four relief appearances over two stints with the Mariners. The Mariners have 10 days to trade, release or outright both Parker and Roach to the minor leagues.
The Mariners (55-53) will play the Los Angeles Angels in the second of three games at Safeco Field Saturday at 6:40 p.m. RHP Taijuan Walker (4-7, 3.66), coming off the disabled list, will pitch for Seattle opposite LHP Tyler Skaggs (1-0, 0.00).
