Just Hours Before Series Begins, Phillies, Mariners Make Trade

The Seattle Mariners are in town to play a two-game series against the Phillies.  Mariners general manager Jerry DiPoto is well-known for making a lot of trades.  The Phillies made their first trade with DiPoto's Mariners this Spring, acquiring reliever Pat Venditte.  Just hours before the first game, the Phillies and Mariners made yet another deal.

The Phillies announced on Tuesday afternoon that the club had acquired reliever Casey Fien from the Mariners in exchange for cash considerations.

Fien has appeared in parts of eight seasons in the Major Leagues, including six games in 2017.  In those six appearances, the right-handed Fien pitched six innings and allowed 10 earned runs, for an earned run average of 15.00.   Just a week ago, Fien was outrighted off of the Mariners 40-man roster and assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.

The Phillies will assign Fien to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Fien came up with the Detroit Tigers in 2009, where he spent two seasons. Fien is best known for his time with the Minnesota Twins, where he was a presence in their bullpen from 2012 through 2016.   After wrapping up 2016 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Fien signed with the Mariners in December.

Having been outrighted off of Seattle's 40-man roster, the Phillies will have to make roster space for Fien before he could be added to the Major League roster.

Fien is 17-17 with a 4.29 ERA lifetime.