BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Twins worked out a deal with the Mariners on Saturday, allowing Seattle to keep Rule 5 Draft pick R.A. Dickey in exchange for Minor League catcher Jair Fernandez.

Dickey, a knuckleballer, signed a Minor League contract with the Twins in late November but was left off Minnesota's 40-man roster. He was then taken by Seattle in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft in December. Dickey went 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in seven spring contests for the Mariners.

In return for Dickey, the Twins received Fernandez, 21, who hit .260 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 52 games at Class A Wisconsin of the Midwest League last year.

The right-handed Dickey cleared waivers before the Mariners and Twins worked out the deal, which allowed Seattle to send Dickey to the Minors. Dickey had been battling with right-hander Cha Seung Baek, who was out of options, for the final spot in the Mariners' bullpen.

The Twins had expressed some interest in getting Dickey back earlier this spring, but their pitching staff has since been set for the regular season, with right-hander Brian Bass earning the final spot in the bullpen.