Padres acquire RHP Stephen Kohlscheen and OF Abraham Almonte from Seattle Mariners in exchange for OF Chris Denorfia
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres today announced they have acquired right-handed pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen and outfielder Abraham Almonte from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder Chris Denorfia.
Kohlscheen, 25, has split the 2014 season between Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma, going 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA (17 ER, 56.2 IP) with 55 strikeouts against 10 walks over 38 relief appearances and earning Southern League All-Star honors this season. The right-hander was signed by the Mariners as a 45th-round selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. Over parts of five minor league seasons in the Mariners organization (2010-14), he has gone 24-10 with a 3.18 ERA (117 ER, 330.2 IP) with 361 strikeouts against 120 walks in 159 games, 19 starts.
Almonte, 25, has hit .267 (74-for-277) with 10 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 31 RBI and 42 runs scored in 72 games for Triple-A Tacoma this season. The switch-hitter has also played in 27 Major League games for Seattle this season. A native of the Dominican Republic, he made his Major League debut with the Mariners last season, hitting .264 (19-for-72) over 25 games played. He was originally signed by the New York Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in July 2005 and acquired by the Mariners from the Yankees in 2013 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Shawn Kelley. Over parts of nine minor league seasons in the Yankees (2006-12) and Mariners (2013-14) organizations, he has hit .269 (780-for-2900) with 131 doubles, 48 triples, 53 home runs, 323 RBI, 477 runs scored and 209 stolen bases in 768 games played. Almonte has played in 52 Big League games total over parts of two seasons with the Mariners (2013-14).
Denorfia, 34, has hit .242 (60-for-248) with 10 doubles, three triples, one home run, 16 RBI and 25 runs scored in 89 games this season. Over parts of five seasons total with the Padres (2010-14), the right-handed hitter has hit .275 (456-for-1660) in 573 games played. Originally signed by the Cincinnati Reds as a 19th-round selection in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, he was signed by the Padres as a minor league free agent in December 2009. Over parts of nine Major League seasons with the Reds (2005-06), Oakland Athletics (2008-09) and Padres (2010-14), he has hit .275 (514-for-1868) with 90 doubles, 15 triples, 36 home runs, 173 RBI and 260 runs scored in 673 games played.