Mariners Discard Fleming To Kansas City For Milacki

Dave Fleming, a 17-game winner with Seattle in 1992, was traded by the Mariners to the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Bob Milacki on Friday.

The trade came one day after the Mariners demoted Fleming to Triple A Tacoma. He was 1-5 with a 7.50 ERA in seven starts. He began the season as a starter and was later dropped to the bullpen.

From 1991-95, he was 38-31 with a 4.73 ERA in 107 games with Seattle.

Fleming, 25, was 7-11 with a 6.46 ERA last season after going 12-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 1993. His demise was a factor in the firing of pitching coach Sammy Ellis after last season. Ellis was succeeded as pitching coach by Bobby Cuellar, who used to be Fleming’s minor-league pitching coach.

Fleming’s control remains a problem; he issued 34 walks this year.

Fleming signed a one-year, $750,000 contract this spring.

In return for the left-hander, the Mariners received a pitcher who last was in the major leagues in 1994, when he was 0-5 with a 6.14 ERA.

Milacki, 30, was assigned to Tacoma. He has spent this season at Triple A Omaha, going 8-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 15 starts.