Phillies acquire P Mateo for Double-A shortstop

By Dave Walter
The Phanatic Magazine

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired troubled relief pitcher Julio Mateo from the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in exchange for minor league shortstop Jesus Merchan.

One day after upgrading their starting rotation with the acquisition of Kyle Lohse from Cincinnati, the Phillies turned their attention to their bullpen prior to the non-waiver trade deadline by bringing in Mateo.

In nine games with Seattle this season, Mateo went 1-0 with a 3.75 earned run average. On May 7, he was suspended 10 days without pay for missing a game against the New York Yankees without permission.

Mateo missed the contest after authorities confirmed that he punched, bit and choked his wife, Aurea, because of an argument in a New York hotel.

Mateo was arraigned in New York on a third-degree assault charge, a class A misdemeanor, and released on $3,000 bail.