The Seattle Mariners traded lefty Matt Thornton to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Joe Borchard on Monday.
The 29-year-old Thornton struggled last season with the Mariners, going 0-4 with a 5.21 ERA in 55 games. He has a 4.82 ERA in 74 relief appearances with Seattle.
"I's difficult to give up on a guy who throws 94mph [151kph]," Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said. "Things didn't work out for Matt here, but hopefully for him everything will come together for him in a different environment."
Thornton's problems continued this spring. He allowed 11 runs and 18 hits in seven innings of exhibition play for a 14.14 ERA. In his last outing against San Francisco, he was knocked around for five runs in one inning.
"[Seattle] had high expectations for me, and I guess I didn't live up to those expectations," Thornton said in the Mariners' clubhouse.
The 27-year-old Borchard was at Triple-A Charlotte for most of 2005 and finished second in the International League with 29 home runs. He spent the last month of the season with the White Sox, playing in seven games and going 5-for-12. The switch-hitter appeared in 102 career games with Chicago, hitting .191 with 12 homers and 30 RBIs over four seasons.
This spring, Borchard was batting .324 with two homers and seven RBIs in 14 games.
By trading Thornton, Seattle loses one of its few left-handed pitching options. Aside from starters Jarrod Washburn and Jamie Moyer, closer Eddie Guardado is the only left-hander assured of making the roster.
Hargrove said he is prepared to go without any lefties in the bullpen aside from Guardado.
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