26-year old lefty starting pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith got a late start to his season due to injuries and a rehab assignment but he’s making up for lost time. He has started 9 games for the Mariners this season and he is 2-2 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Rowland-Smith is pitching aggressive and missing bats as he has only allowed 45 hits in 54 2/3 innings this season. His style is very similar to Jarrod Washburn’s so he should succeed in Seattle.

The Mariners have released 26-year old righty starting pitcher Luis Pena. Pena pitched in 6 games (4 starts) in the minors this season and he was 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. The Mariners released Pena to make room on the roster for righty reliever Randy Messenger who has been called up to Seattle.

The Mariners have acquired 29-year old righty swinging 3B Bill Hall from the Brewers for 25-year old righty reliever Ruben Flores. Hall played in 76 games for the Brewers this season and he was 43 for 214 (.201 avg, .606 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 6 homers and 24 RBIs. Hall has now played in 831 games in his major league career and he is 677 for 2,676 (.253 avg, .758 OPS) with 370 runs scored, 102 homers, 367 RBIs and 49 stolen bases. Hall will replace the injured Adrian Beltre at 3B for the Mariners and he should help them in the bid to win the Wild Card in the American League. Ruben Flores isn’t much of a prospect. He has pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in A-ball this season and he is 3-2 with 18 saves, a 4.39 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. This was a good move for the Mariners who are still trying to win and they deserve credit for that.

The Mariners have acquired 32-year old righty reliever Mike Koplove from the Pirates for 22-year old righty swinging shortstop Deybis Benitez. Koplove has pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this season and he is 4-4 with 8 saves, a 1.82 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has whiffed 50 batters in only 54 1/3 innings this season in the minors while allowing only 42 hits which shows that his stuff is still there. Koplove will likely be called up by the Mariners soon if he continues to pitch well in the minors. He has pitched in 222 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 15-7 with 2 saves, a 3.82 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. The Mariners didn’t give up much to get him. Benitez has played in 12 games in Rookie and A-ball this season and he is 7 for 23 (.304 avg, .711 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 2 RBIs. This was a good little trade for the Mariners.

The Mariners have designated infielder Chris Woodward for assignment to make room for the return of starting 3B Adrian Beltre. Beltre has played in 75 games this season for the Mariners and he is 78 for 307 (.254 avg, .650 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 5 homers, 31 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. A healthy Beltre should boost the Mariners’ offense the rest of the way. Chris Woodward played in 20 games for the Mariners this season and he was 16 for 67 (.239 avg, .542 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 5 RBIs and 1 stolen base. It will be interesting to see if Woodward accepts a outright assignment to AAA or if he refuses it and becomes a free agent.