Mark Lowe trade to Blue Jays confirms Mariners are sellers

MINNEAPOPLIS – If there was any doubt, the trading of Mark Lowe confirms the Mariners are sellers. While Dustin Ackley, who was traded Thursday, was a part-time player, Mark Lowe, who is heading to Toronto, was a key piece of the Mariners bullpen.

Preseason dreams of playing into October are a thing of the past. With the Mariners 12 games back in the division and 11 games under .500, they have traded their best reliever to the Blue Jays for three minor leaguers.

Never mind the feel-good story of Lowe’s return to the Mariners and success he has had after signing a minor-league contract with the team in January; since Charlie Furbush went on the DL before the All-Star break, Lowe has been the only reliable arm Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon could go to in the bullpen. There was the home run he gave up in to Ian Kinsler in Detroit two weeks ago, but other than that his performance in 2015 has been stellar. His 1.00 ERA in 34 appearances this year is second lowest in the AL among relievers.

In return for Lowe, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, the Mariners acquire left-handed pitchers Rob Rasmussen, Jake Brentz and Nick Wells.

Rasmussen, 26, was originally a second-round pick of the Marlins. He appeared in one game with Toronto earlier this year and was 4-1 with one save and a 2.36 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 34 games, including one start with Triple-A Buffalo. He has been pitching primarily in relief since the start of the 2014 season.

Wells, 19, was a third-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2014 and is listed as the Toronto’s No. 28 prospect by Baseball America. He is 1-2 with a 4.78 ERA and 31 strikeouts in seven starts for rookie-level Bluefield this season. In two minor-league seasons, he is 2-5 with a 5.26 ERA with 49 strikeouts.

Brentz, 20, was 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA and 16 strikeouts in six starts for Bluefield. He was originally drafted by Toronto in the 11th round of the 2013 draft. In three minor-league seasons, he is 1-4 with a 4.80 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 27 games including 12 starts.

Rasmussen has been placed on the Mariners 40-man roster, which is now full. A corresponding move on the 25-man roster to replace Lowe has yet to be announced.

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