SEATTLE, Wash. – Seattle Mariners announced today that the Mariners have acquired right-handed pitcher Alex Colomé, outfielder Denard Span and cash considerations from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Andrew Moore and minor league right-handed pitcher Tommy Romero.
“This is a trade that makes us a more complete club in the present while also offering impact beyond this season,” Dipoto said. “Alex Colomé brings an all-star resume, fortifying what we believe is an already solid back end of the bullpen. Denard Span adds length to our lineup as a steady and smart player with consistent on-base skills in addition to a veteran presence that enhances our environment.”
To make room on the 40-man roster, Seattle has transferred right-handed pitcher David Phelps to the 60-day disabled list. Phelps was placed on the 10-day disabled list on March 28 (retro to 3/26) after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (“Tommy John”) surgery on his right arm.
Colomé, 29, ranks 4th in the American League (8th in the Majors) with 11 saves this season; he’s converted his last 10 consecutive save opportunities. Colomé has limited left-handed hitters to a .205 average (9-for-44) in 2018. In his last 15 games, he is 2-3 with 7 saves and a 1.84 ERA (3 ER, 14.2 IP) with 17 strikeouts. Overall, Alex was 2-5 with a 4.15 ERA and 11 saves in 23 games this season with the Rays.
In 2017, Colomé (COLE-uh-may) led the Majors with 47 saves and led the American League with 6 saves of four or more outs. He finished the season 2-3, 3.24 (24 ER, 66.2 IP) with 47 saves in 65 appearances. Colomé has spent his entire career with the Rays, making his debut in 2013. Overall, he is 17-18, 3.21 with 95 saves in 196 games (19 starts). Since the start of the 2016 season, his 95 saves are 2nd-most in the Majors, trailing only the Dodgers Kenley Jansen.
Span, 34, reached base safely in 35 of 43 games with Tampa Bay, batting .238 (34×143) with 27 runs scored, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 28 RBI, 28 walks and 6 stolen bases. He reached base safely in 23 straight games, April 15-May 15, batting .272 (22×81) with 18 runs scored, 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 17 RBI, 17 walks and 4 stolen bases during the streak. Span was part of a 5-player trade between the Rays and Giants on Dec. 20, 2017, that sent Span, Christian Arroyo (inf), Matt Krook (lhp) and Stephen Woods Jr. (rhp) to Tampa Bay from San Francisco in exchange for Evan Longoria (inf).
Span is an 11-year Major League veteran with the Minnesota Twins (2008-12), Washington Nationals (2013-15), San Francisco Giants (2016-17) and Tampa Bay Rays (2018). He was originally selected by the Twins in the first round (20th overall) of the 2002 June Draft out of Tampa Catholic High School, where he played on the 2001 state championship team and was all-state as a junior and senior. He was inducted into Tampa Catholic’s Baseball Hall of Fame on Feb. 10, 2010.
Over his 11 Major League seasons, Span has hit .282/.348/.396 (1418×5032) with 737 runs, 250 doubles, 66 triples, 64 home runs, 460 RBI, 492 walks and 182 steals. He is one of three National League outfielders with double-digit homers and steals in each of the last two seasons (2016 & 2017), joining Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun and Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon. He tied for the NL lead with 184 hits in 2014, led the NL with 11 triples in 2013 and tied for the AL lead with 10 triples in 2009.
Moore, 23 (turns 24 on June 2), went 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA (17 ER, 50.1 IP) in 9 starts with Double-A Arkansas this season. He limited opponents to a .210 (38×181) average, while walking 14 and striking out 47. Moore earned the win in his Major League debut with Seattle on June 22 vs. Detroit, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits (1 home run) while striking out 4 over 7.0 innings pitched. Overall, in 4 stints (6/21-23, 7/3-28, 8/11-12 & 9/1-10/1) with Seattle last year, combined to go 1-5 with a 5.34 ERA (35 ER, 59.0 IP) while walking 8 and striking out 31. He also appeared in 21 games, 19 starts, combined between Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, going 4-6 with a 3.04 ERA (37 ER, 30.4 IP).
In 2016, Moore was named the Jamie Moyer Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Mariners after combining for a record of 12-4 with a 2.65 ERA (48 ER, 163.0 IP) with 133 strikeouts and 31 walks in 28 starts between Advanced-A Bakersfield and Double-A Jackson. He was selected by Seattle in the 2nd round (72nd overall) of the 2015 MLB Draft. In 4 minor league seasons in the Seattle organization (2015-18), he went 20-12 with a 2.76 ERA (111 ER, 362.0 IP) with 322 strikeouts and 69 walks in 72 games (64 starts).
Romero, 20, went 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA (12 ER, 44.0 IP) in 9 starts with Single-A Clinton this year. He struck out 54 and walked 15 while limiting opponents to a .252 (41×163) average. In 2017, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander went 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA (10 ER, 43.1 IP), striking out 51 and walking 15 in 13 appearances, 2 starts, with the Rookie AZL Mariners.
Romero was selected by Seattle in the 15th round (453rd overall) in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft from Eastern Florida State College. In two minor league seasons in the Mariners organization, he went 8-4 with a 2.27 ERA (22 ER, 87.1 IP) in 22 career appearances, 11 career starts.
