CHICAGO _ The White Sox strengthened the back end of their bullpen Friday by acquiring reliever Alex Colome from the Mariners for catcher Omar Narvaez.
Colome, 29, this year became the first pitcher in major-league history to earn at least 10 saves and 30 holds in one season. He was 7-5 with a 3.04 ERA, 30 holds, 12 saves and 72 strikeouts in 70 games with the Rays and Mariners.
He was 5-0 with a 2.53 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 47 games with the Mariners after the Rays dealt him May 25 in a four-player deal.
Colome had a $5.3 million salary in 2018 and is projected to earn $7.3 million in 2019.
"We view Alex as a terrific addition to our bullpen given his experience in a number of relief roles, including closing very successfully for Tampa Bay in 2016-18 before moving into a setup role with the Mariners," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. "Alex is going to be a very important bullpen piece for (manager) Ricky Renteria and our team over the next couple of years."
Colome is 22-18 with a 3.12 ERA, 96 saves, 40 holds and 314 strikeouts over six seasons with the Rays (2013-18) and Mariners (2018). His 96 saves since 2016 are tied for fifth in the majors, and he's expected to share late-inning duties with Nate Jones, who missed most of 2018 because of a right forearm strain.
Colome, a 2016 American League All-Star, became the first pitcher in Rays history to lead the league in saves with 47 in 2017, six more than any other pitcher in the major leagues.
Narvaez, 26, had a .275/.366/.429 slash line with nine home runs, 30 RBIs and 30 runs scored in 2018, his third season with the Sox. He hit .274 with 12 homers, 54 RBIs and 66 runs scored overall after the Sox selected him from the Rays in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 12, 2013.
The Sox will likely look for more catching help with Welington Castillo and Seby Zavala, who has yet to reach the majors, on their 40-man roster.
