RHP Joaquin Benoit (right shoulder inflammation) played catch in the outfield Sunday and is making progress in his recovery, manager Scott Servais said Monday before Seattle's series-opener at Oakland. "Felt really good. It's thumbs up on that one. He's moving in the right direction. Obviously, he didn't travel with us, but he should be ready for a bullpen by the time we get back home or maybe just before that." The Mariners' next home game is May 9 against Tampa Bay. Benoit went on the 15-day disabled list April 25, retroactive to April 22. Servais said he didn't know if Benoit would need to go on a rehab assignment.

RHP Joaquin Benoit was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder. Benoit, whose most recent appearance came on Friday, has a 3.60 ERA over five appearances this season. He has served as the Mariners' setup man but took a few days off earlier this month because of a tired arm.

RHP Joaquin Benoit went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Friday due to right shoulder inflammation Benoit, 38, gave up two runs, including a home run, against Cleveland on Thursday. He is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in five appearances this year.

RHP Joaquin Benoit was throwing "free and easy" and with no restriction Saturday according to manager Scott Servais in Saturday's 20-pitch outing. Benoit pitched for the first time since April 8 during the eighth inning Saturday. He had been unavailable since then due to right shoulder stiffness that lingered from spring training. Before Saturday, he had been responding to playing catch and subsequent treatment.

RHP Joaquin Benoit pitched for the first time since April 8 and threw 20 pitches during the eighth inning. He had been unavailable since then because of right shoulder stiffness that lingered from spring training. Before Saturday, he had been responding to playing catch and subsequent treatment.

RHP Joaquin Benoit (right shoulder stiffness) was available Friday after not pitching for a week. Manager Scott Servais said Benoit's shoulder has responded to playing catch and subsequent treatment. Benoit had stiffness in his right shoulder during spring training and was slowed during bullpen sessions and exhibition games.

RHP Joaquin Benoit (right shoulder stiffness) has responded well to treatment and playing catch, manager Scott Servais said Friday. Benoit has not pitched since last Friday.

RHP Joaquin Benoit, 38, hasn't pitched since experiencing back and shoulder tightness -- a problem for him in spring training -- after he pitched last Friday. Manager Scott Servais said the Mariners are hopeful their set-up man will be ready to pitch when Seattle opens a three-game road series with the New York Yankees on Friday.

RHP Joaquin Benoit, 38, is shut down for at least a few days as he battles tightness in his right shoulder and back. Benoit has been working as the Mariners' main setup man to closer Steve Cishek, and he has yet to allow a hit or run -- he has walked three -- in two innings this season.

RHP Joaquin Benoit was acquired by the Mariners from the Padres for two minor-leaguers on Thursday.The Padres received RHP Enyel De Los Santos and INF Nelson Ward from Seattle.Benoit, 38, was 6-5 with two saves and a 2.34 ERA in 2015. He has a 54-42 career mark with 50 saves and a 3.84 ERA in 14 seasons with Texas, Tampa Bay, Detroit and San Diego."Joaquin is a proven late game presence who brings both stability and impact to the back end of our bullpen," Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. "We value his experience, track record of durability and consistently high end performance."

The San Diego Padres traded veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit to the Seattle Mariners for two minor-leaguers on Thursday.The Padres received right-handed pitcher Enyel De Los Santos and infielder Nelson Ward from Seattle.Benoit, 38, was 6-5 with two saves and a 2.34 ERA in 2015. He has a 54-42 career mark with 50 saves and a 3.84 ERA in 14 seasons with Texas, Tampa Bay, Detroit and San Diego."Joaquin is a proven late game presence who brings both stability and impact to the back end of our bullpen," Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. "We value his experience, track record of durability and consistently high end performance."The 19-year-old De Los Santos split time between rookie league and short-A ball last season and was 6-0 with a 3.47 ERA in 13 starts.Ward, 23, split the campaign between Single-A Clinton and High-A Bakersfield and batted .278 with nine home runs and 55 RBIs.

RHP Joaquin Benoit had his $7.5 million option picked up by the Padres on Nov. 3. Benoit, 38, went 6-5 with two saves and a 2.34 ERA in 67 appearances for San Diego this year.

Benoit (back) returned to the mound Thursday against the Rockies, serving up the go-ahead solo homer to Daniel Descalso to take the loss.

The home run was the only hit Benoit allowed in his first appearance in four games, mirroring the difficulties Padres starter Tyson Ross had with the long ball on the afternoon despite otherwise dominating the Rockies. Benoit has been involved in an unusually high number of decisions for a middle reliever, as the loss Thursday dropped his season record to 6-5.

Benoit (back) is unavailable to pitch on Monday, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

He's still considered day-to-day with back spasms, and could rejoin his bullpen mates as soon as tomorrow. The primary set-up man for the Padres is posting a 2.30 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 58.2 innings this season.

Benoit was unavailable for Sunday's game against the Dodgers due to back spasms, the Union Tribune's Jeff Sanders reports.

Benoit might not have pitched anyway, as the Padres were down 5-1 after the seventh inning. He struggled in his last appearance, giving up one run on two hits and a walk over one inning in Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Dodgers. If Benoit misses time beyond Sunday, Kevin Quackenbush would likely serve as the top set-up man.

Benoit retired the side in order in the ninth inning of Thursday's 10-7 win over the Dodgers to claim his second save of the season.

It appears interim manager Pat Murphy was just giving regular closer Craig Kimbrel the night off after working the previous two games, so Benoit isn't necessarily positioned to receive more save chances down the stretch. As has been the case for a few seasons now, Benoit has been one of the league's more reliable relievers to this point in 2015, supplying a 2.18 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 25 holds to go along with 54 strikeouts over 57.2 innings.

Benoit earned his 23rd hold of the season Wednesday despite giving up a run on a pair of hits in the win over Atlanta.

For now, he remains the eighth-inning option of choice in front of Padres closer Craig Kimbrel, but a waiver-deadline trade (or two) could shake up the San Diego bullpen in a big way. The 38-year-old Benoit would seemingly be an upgrade in the relief corps of several contending clubs down the stretch and into the postseason.

Benoit earned the win in relief Friday night against the Cardinals with a scoreless eighth inning.

While he's worked in front of Craig Kimbrel all season, Benoit has managed to pick up five wins and 10 holds while posting excellent ratios (2.12 ERA, 0.79 WHIP) on the strength of a 30:13 K:BB. If the Padres are looking to shed payroll at the non-waiver trade deadline, Benoit could be flipped to a club seeking a bullpen upgrade in the coming weeks.

Benoit (arm) tossed a scoreless inning against the Rockies on Sunday.

He did not pitch in four consecutive games after getting roughed up by the Astros on April 27. The Padres indicated that Benoit was slowed by a case of dead arm, but the return to action Sunday suggests that it's not a serious ailment.

Benoit (arm) will play catch Sunday, MLB.com's Corey Brock reports.

Benoit is being listed as day-to-day for now, but there's legitimate concern but the dead-arm phase that he's dealing with could result in his eventual placement on the DL. The Padres will use his performance following Sunday's catch session as a gauge for determining how much time he might be forced to miss as a result of the issue.