Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte traded to Seattle Mariners

Ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte has traded to the Mariners for a player to be named later, according to the Blue Jays’ official Twitter account. Venditte had been playing with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons as a reliever and emergency starter.

Venditte, 31, was the first truly ambidextrous pitcher to play in the major leagues. He debuted as a 30-year-old with the Athletics last year before being claimed on waivers by the Blue Jays in October. He got eight innings of work in the Blue Jays' bullpen earlier this year when they were desperate for a left-handed reliever, but spent the majority of the season with the Bisons.

Over 25 games (two starts), Venditte recorded a 4.37 ERA, striking out 52 and walking 13 over 35 innings pitched. His last appearance for the Blue Jays organization came in the second half of a doubleheader on Tuesday when he tossed four scoreless innings in his second start of the year.

So long Pat Venditte ... and arguably one of the greatest calls to the bullpen. pic.twitter.com/Kpk5YVL9Y1

— Ian Hunter (@BlueJayHunter) August 6, 2016

Although August 1 was the non-waiver trade deadline, trades in August are allowed as long as players have passed through trade assignment waivers. In fact, the reason this trade occured was likely that Seattle submitted a claim when Toronto tried to clear Venditte through those trade waivers. Almost all players on the 40-man roster are placed on trade waivers in August. There is little risk of losing players, as trade waivers are revocable, allowing teams to pull back any player that has been claimed, with the provisio that the waivers become irrevocable the next time the player is placed on waivers in the same period.

To make room for Venditte, the Mariners have designated former Blue Jays farmhand Donn Roach for assignment. Earlier today the Mariners also acquired Arquimedes Caminero from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later (likely a different player).

The good news is that the Venditte Glove Flip tee is now on sale! I wonder if they'll make a batch in Mariners colours.

In addition, VENDITTE was removed from the Blue Jays Roster Tree Route Map