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Seattle Mariners

Mariners acquire LHP Wade LeBlanc, sign RHP Tom Wilhelmsen to help pitching

Seattle Mariners pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen gestures to the dugout after earning a save in baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in Seattle. (Stephen Brashear / Associated Press)
Seattle Mariners pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen gestures to the dugout after earning a save in baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in Seattle. (Stephen Brashear / Associated Press)
Associated Press

DETROIT – The Seattle Mariners are trying to bolster their pitching by signing former right-handed reliever Tom Wilhelmsen and acquiring left-hander Wade LeBlanc in a trade with Toronto.

Seattle made the moves on Wednesday. Wilhelmsen was signed to a one-year deal after he declined an outright assignment by Texas earlier this month and was granted free agency. Wilhelmsen was a solid reliever with Seattle from 2011-15 before being traded to the Rangers last offseason. Wilhelmsen struggled in Texas with a 2-3 record and 10.55 ERA in 21 appearances.

To clear a roster spot for Wilhelmsen, Seattle transferred left-hander Charlie Furbush to the 60-day disabled list and optioned Jonathan Aro to Triple-A Tacoma.

LeBlanc was acquired in exchange for cash or a player to be named later and likely will be Seattle’s starter on Friday. LeBlanc was 7-2 with a 1.71 ERA in 14 starts with Triple-A Buffalo. He last pitched in the majors in 2014 with the Yankees and Angels.