MARINERS ACQUIRE RHP JARED WELLS FROM SAN DIEGO PADRES Will Be Optioned to AAA Tacoma.

Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Bill Bavasi announced today that the Mariners have acquired right-handed pitcher Jared Wells from the San Diego Padres in exchange for right-handed pitcher Cha Seung Baek. Baek was designated for assignment on May 21.

Seattle will option Wells to AAA Tacoma today. He will join the Rainiers in Fresno.

Wells, 26, made his Major League debut with the Padres this season, appearing in two games and not recording a decision. He had nine saves with AAA Portland, allowing 19 hits in 20.0 innings pitched while compiling a 1-1 mark.

In 2007, he spent the full season with Portland. After beginning the season in the starting rotation, he moved to the bullpen fulltime on June 8. Beginning June 8, he was 2-1 with 9 saves and a 2.93 ERA (14 ER / 43.0 IP) in 37 games. Wells did not allow a home run in 43.0 relief innings. He did not allow a run in his final 15 outings (Aug. 6-Sept. 3) converting seven consecutive save opportunities over that span.

Baek, 27 (turns 28 May 29), appeared in 10 games, making one start, with Seattle this season and was 0-1, 5.40 (18 ER, 30.0 IP). He was 10-9, 4.96 in 37 games/24 starts over parts of four seasons with the Mariners. The native of Pusan, Korea was originally signed by the Mariners as a non-drafted free agent on Sept. 25, 1998.