SEATTLE -- With neither veteran figuring in their plans this year, the Mariners traded Triple-A relievers Mark Lowe and Jean Machi to the White Sox on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.
Lowe, 34, was in his third stint with the Mariners organization, though he never reached the Major League club this year and had gone 3-4 with a 6.23 ERA in 32 appearances for Triple-A Tacoma.
Lowe last saw Major League time with the Tigers last year, appearing in 54 games and posting a 7.11 ERA, after previous stints with the Blue Jays, Mariners, Indians, Angels and Rangers. The 11-year Major League veteran was drafted by Seattle in the fifth round in 2004.
Lowe pitched with Seattle from 2006-10 and again in '15 before being dealt to the Blue Jays midseason. He signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Tigers in 2016, but was released following last season. He rejoined the Mariners in March on a Minor League deal.
Machi, 35, threw in five games for the Mariners in May with a 1.17 ERA in 7 2/3 innings before spending the rest of this season with Tacoma, where he posted a 3.44 ERA in 29 appearances. The Venezuela native has previously pitched for the Red Sox in 2015 and for the Giants, including San Francisco's World Series title runs in '12 and '14.
Neither Lowe nor Machi were on Seattle's 40-man roster. Their move to Chicago gives the White Sox more bullpen depth after losing Zack Burdi, Nate Jones and Zach Putnam to injury and trading Player Page for David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle to the Yankees along with third baseman Todd Frazier.
White Sox relievers Tyler Clippard and Anthony Swarzak remain a part of rumors as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches.
Iwakuma still not close to returning
Veteran right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, who has been sidelined since May 3 with a shoulder issue, remains an unknown. Manager Scott Servais said the 36-year-old is still limited to light throwing, with no timetable on when he can ramp things up.
"He is feeling better today," Servais said Friday. "He's been playing catch consistently. Once he gets out to about 150 feet, we can get him on the mound and throw a bullpen. He's not there yet, but he is feeling better and in pain free, which are all good signs."
Iwakuma has made just six starts this year and is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA. He is 94 innings shy of the 125 he needs this season in order to guarantee a $14 million option for next year. He won't return in time to reach that figure, so he'll become a free agent following the season.
Worth noting
• Right-hander Ryan Weber, who has been shut down since his one start for Seattle in mid-May in Toronto due to a biceps injury, was cleared to begin throwing again. Weber tested the arm with a towel drill on Friday and will start throwing on Saturday.
The 26-year-old was claimed off waivers from the Braves in November and was 2-0 with a 0.85 ERA in six outings (five starts) for Tacoma before getting hurt in his spot start with the Mariners.