Mariners acquire Gaviglio from Cards for Kelly

SEATTLE -- Mariners infielder Ty Kelly, who spent all of last season with Triple-A Tacoma, was traded to the Cardinals on Thursday for right-handed pitcher Sam Gaviglio.

Neither player has reached the Major Leagues yet nor was on their team's 40-man roster at the time of the deal, though the Cardinals immediately put Kelly on their 40-man to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

Gaviglio, 24, went 5-12 with a 4.28 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) for Double-A Springfield last season with 126 strikeouts in 136 2/3 innings. He posted a 2.90 ERA in 11 games, including 10 starts, during the second half of the season after a 5.42 ERA in 14 first-half starts.

The 6-foot-2 Gaviglio is a native of Ashland, Ore., and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Oregon State.

Kelly, 26, was acquired by the Mariners in midseason in 2013 from the Orioles in exchange for outfielder Eric Thames. He hit .263/.381/.412 with 15 home runs and 80 RBIs in 134 games for Tacoma last season while splitting time between second, third and the outfield.

Kelly would have been exposed to the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 11 since he wasn't protected by Seattle, but the Mariners chose to move him in exchange for a right-hander who will add some starting pitching depth to the organization.