Joaquin Benoit, Phillies agree to $7.5M, 1-year deal

OXON HILL, Md. -- Reliever Joaquin Benoit and the Philadelphia Phillies have finalized a $7.5 million, one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.

Benoit, a 39-year-old right-hander, has had an ERA under 3.00 for six of the past seven years. He was 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA last season, including a 0.38 ERA after the Toronto Blue Jays acquired him from Seattle on July 26 for reliever Drew Storen. He averaged 9.75 strikeouts per nine innings.

Benoit has a 0.98 WHIP (walks and hits per inning) during the last seven seasons, trailing only Kenley Jansen (0.89) and Craig Kimbrel (0.95). Benoit has 51 saves in 712 big league games.

Benoit's deal was negotiated by agents Sam and Seth Levinson. Philadelphia designated right-hander Michael Mariot for assignment to open a roster spot.