SAN DIEGO -- The Padres acquired former Rule 5 Draft selection Jabari Blash from the Mariners on Wednesday in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations.
In 23 games for San Diego this season, Blash batted .120. But as a Rule 5 pick, he could not be sent to the Minors without first clearing waivers and being offered back to Seattle, his old club. He was designated for assignment Friday.
Wednesday's transaction will allow the 26-year-old Blash to remain in the Padres' system in the Minors. He has been assigned to Triple-A El Paso.
"I think we saw what he could do last year when he got everyday at-bats at Triple-A, and that's why we picked him up in the Rule 5," said Padres manager Andy Green. "We're thrilled we were able to work out a trade."
Between Double-A and Triple-A in the Mariners system last season, Blash batted .271/.370/.576 with 32 homers. That power was also on display during Spring Training, when four of his 10 hits were home runs. But with limited playing time, Blash never found a rhythm at the big league level.
Green spoke to the importance of getting Blash everyday reps, and he noted that Blash could potentially serve as a callup later in the season.
"It was a tough hand to be dealt for a guy like him, coming off the bench," Green said. "As big as he is, long-limbed guys have a hard time getting timing down, especially when they haven't had success at the Major League level before. Those were tough at-bats for him, and nobody really wanted to judge him strictly on those."