San Diego Padres claim LHP Bobby LaFromboise off waivers from the Mariners

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego, CA- The San Diego Padres this morning claimed left-handed reliever Bobby LaFromboise off waivers, after the Seattle Mariners designated him for assignment to create on their 40-man roster for former Padres Chris Young you they signed to a free-agent deal last week. To make room for LaFromboise on their 40-man roster the Padres moved right-handed pitcher Joe Wieland from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. Wieland underwent successful elbow surgery last month and will be able to begin playing catch in about six weeks. The procedure was to clean up his elbow joint and will only miss the first half of the season.

LaFromboise will begin the season in Triple-A El Paso. 

LaFromboise was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the eighth round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of New Mexico.

LaFromboise made his major league debut with the Mariners last season. He appeared in 10 games for the Mariners out of the bullpen.  He struggled a bit his first times in the bigs, allowing 8 runs on 12 hits, while striking out 11 in 10 2/3 innings pitched. LaFromboise has been successful in the minors, with a 2.68 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 100 2/3 innings the past two seasons in Triple-A.

LaFromboise gives the Padres another left-handed reliever to add to their organizational depth. The Padres have been trying to add solid left-handed relievers all off-season, as shown by the acquisition of Patrick Schuster, Tony Sipp and Alex Torres. Except Schuster and Sipp didn’t work out for the Padres this spring. Sipp decided to stay with the Padres and accept his assignment to Triple-A and Schuster was selected off waivers by the Kansas City Royals.