Braves Get Presley From Mariners for Pitcher Eave, Minor Leaguer

ATLANTA —  The Atlanta Braves traded right-handed pitcher Gary Eave and minor leaguer Ken Pennington to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday for third baseman Jim Presley.

Presley, 28, hit .236 with 12 home runs and 41 runs batted in last season, playing only 117 games due to a back injury. He has 115 home runs and 418 RBIs in his 5 1/2 major league seasons.

“Presley is completely healthy now,” Atlanta Brave General Manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s a tough player, a gamer, who’ll be good to have in the clubhouse. He should be the guy to supply us with the power we need. We’ll keep an open mind about positions and will continue to try to make further deals.”

Eave, 26, was 13-3 with a 2.80 earned run average in triple A last season, and 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA with the Braves. Pennington played at the Class-A level.