First Trade of 2011 Is A Washington-Only Affair

Seattle Monarchs Owner/GM Mack Shultz announced a trade with their Washington State brethren, the Walla Walla Federal Duck, kicking off the 2011 trading season. Seattle sent veteran reliever Mark Deschamp to Walla Walla in exchange for minor league reliever Allen Rueter.

"Mark has been a huge part of our success over the last two and a half seasons. He's generally been the key right-handed set-up guy and has been a rock we could always depend on," said Shultz. "We're going to miss his presence out there. But, we have a couple of young kids that we think are ready to pitch for us in an expanded role this season and we need to give them that opportunity."

Shultz was referring to Merlin Bohon, Wesley Elton, and Harry Johnson, all three of whom are considered good prospects. Bohon has pitched in the majors for parts of the last two seasons, compiling a 5.24 ERA. Elton posted a 3.72 ERA in limited action down the stretch last season. Johnson pitched an unimpressive 5.1 innings for Seattle in 2009 but spent all of 2010 in AAA Tacoma.

"We think that Rueter can be a part of our future," Shultz explained. "We really like his live arm and think he can be converted into a starter. We expect him to join the Tacoma rotation and be competing for a major league job in a year or two."

"I've liked my time in Seattle, but it will be good to get back to Walla Walla," said Deschamp, who was reached while on vacation in Barbados. "I really enjoyed my time there. Have you tasted those Walla Walla onions? They make a fantastic French Onion soup."

Deschamp, 35, has one year remaining on his contract. He was an original draftee of the Walla Walla franchise (then based in Kingston) and spent his career with them until a deadline deal in 2008 brought him to Seattle. He then re-signed with Seattle as a free agent in the 2009 offseason. Deschamp has a career 3.28 ERA, going 63-44 with 88 saves.