Mariners deal for Brewers third baseman Hall

The Seattle Mariners acquired Bill Hall from the Milwaukee Brewers today in exchange for minor league pitcher Ruben Flores, SI.com has learned. A source said that the Brewers will pay the remainder of Hall's $6.8 million salary for this season, as well as a large portion of his $8.4 million deal next year, perhaps as much as $7.15 million.

Hall, who was designated for assignment by the Brewers last week, is not expected to join the Mariners until Thursday. Seattle will have to make a corresponding roster move to add Hall to the 40-man roster, but that has not been announced yet.

Hall had spent his entire eight-year career with the Brewers, who drafted him in 1998, but this year he struggled mightily, batting .201 with a .265 on-base percentage and 72 strikeouts in 76 games. Hall has a $9.25 million club option for 2011 that includes a $500,000 buyout.

Mariners first-year general manager Jack Zduriencik, formerly a longtime executive with the Brewers, has seen Hall produce far more in the past, including a 35-home run year in '06. Hall became a necessity for a Mariners team in need of a third baseman after putting Adrian Beltre on the disabled list after Beltre suffered a testicular injury last week. The Mariners entered Wednesday night's game with the Tigers 61-58, 12 games out in the AL West and 6.5 games out of the AL wild card and have lost four of their past five games.

Flores is a 25-year-old right-handed reliever who has spent most of the season at high-A ball, going 2-2 with a 2.30 ERA.