SEATTLE — As the non-waiver trade deadline approached on Monday, lefthanded reliever Fernando Abad received a call from his agent letting him know a deal was likely. The Red Sox, Cubs, and Blue Jays were among the teams interested.

Abad had no preference. He just wanted to get to a contender after pitching well for the last-place Minnesota Twins.

“Whatever team needs me, I’ll do my best to help that team win,’’ he said.

The Red Sox made the deal, sending Triple A righthander Pat Light to the Twins. Abad reported to the Sox on Tuesday and was in the bullpen for the game against the Seattle Mariners.

“I’m glad to be here,’’ said Abad.

He didn’t make the debut he wanted, though.

He came in with two on in the eighth to face lefthanded-hitting Robinson Cano, but Cano crushed a three-run homer to right to cap the Mariners’ five-run inning, saddling Abad with the 5-4 loss.

Abad, 30, has seven seasons of major league experience. He has held lefthanded hitters to a .163 batting average and .458 OPS this season.

He has pitched well against the Red Sox, giving up one earned run over 7⅓ innings the last three seasons. Abad has made three appearances at Fenway Park, allowing one hit over 2⅔ scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

“I didn’t think about that. I just go out there and do my job every time I go out there,’’ he said. “I know I’ve pitched very good the last couple of years against Boston.’’

Abad has appeared in 39 games this season, going 1-4 with a 2.65 earned run average. He has a 3.58 ERA in 297 career appearances.

One plus for Abad, a native of the Dominican Republic, is getting a chance to play with David Ortiz for his final season.

“I’m glad to be next to Ortiz for the last year he plays in the major leagues. It’s an honor,’’ he said. “I’m going to enjoy the people here, my teammates, every day.’’

Abad suspected he would be traded. “I know that stuff happens,’’ he said.

“Minnesota, they haven’t played good the whole season. Some players are going to be traded. It was me and a couple of guys. That was better for their team.’’

Big ‘acquisition’

The trade deadline came and went without the Red Sox obtaining a starting pitcher. But before the day had ended, Eduardo Rodriguez showed that might not have been a problem.

Rodriguez pitched 6⅓ strong innings against the Mariners, allowing a run on three hits. The lefthander retired 18 of the first 20 batters he faced before allowing a run in the seventh inning.

Rodriguez left the mound trailing, 1-0, but the Red Sox came back to win, 2-1, on home runs by Aaron Hill and Mookie Betts.

Rodriguez was 1-3 with an 8.59 earned run average after his first six starts. He was so terrible against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 27 — nine runs on 11 hits over 2⅔ innings — that the Sox sent him back to Triple A Pawtucket immediately after the game.

The problems were many. Rodriguez was giving away what pitches he was about to throw with the position of his hands. He also had little command of his slider. Rodriguez to that point had allowed nine home runs over 29⅓ innings.

Rodriguez returned on July 16 and in four starts since is 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA. He has averaged six innings in those starts.

“It’s been a huge boost. The development of the slider has been the biggest key,’’ manager John Farrell said. “To have him walk out as part of our rotation, we feel like there’s a guy who can take the mound every night and give us a chance to win. He’s executed at a much higher level.’’

Rodriguez said that once he solved his mechanical issues and stopped tipping his pitches, his confidence returned.

“Less thinking and just throw the ball. I feel much better,’’ he said. “I can locate my slider to both sides of the plate and to the back foot on righties and away from lefties.’’

Monday, Rodriguez said, was his best start of the season.

“Everything was there when I needed it,’’ he said. “Now I feel like I can do that every time I go out there. I’m like myself again.’’

Tough goodbye

For a pitcher signed to a minor league contract before the 2014 season, the Red Sox got a lot out of Tommy Layne, who was designated for assignment on Monday night to make room on the roster for Abad.

Layne appeared in 128 games over parts of three seasons and had a 3.30 earned run average. Lefthanders hit .183 against him over 213 plate appearances with just six extra-base hits.

Farrell said it was a tough conversation to have.

“Very tough. Not only the pitcher that he is but the person that he is. He’s a standup guy; he’s a great teammate. He had stretches where he was very good,’’ the manager said.

The Sox have 10 days to pass Layne through waivers, release him, or trade him.

Things move fast in baseball. Abad was assigned to the same locker that Layne had in the visitors’ clubhouse at Safeco Field.

Numbers game

New outfielder Andrew Benintendi was assigned No. 40, which Michael Martinez had before he was designated for assignment on Monday night. Mike Miller also had it earlier this season.

But Carlton Fisk (1969) and Dwight Evans (1972-73) also wore 40 before getting the numbers they are remembered for, 27 and 24, respectively.

Farrell’s plan is to start Benintendi and hit him ninth on Wednesday against Seattle righthander Hisashi Iwakuma.

“We’ll just let him go out and play. Play to his abilities,’’ Farrell said.

Benintendi went from being drafted to the majors quicker than any Red Sox player since Fred Lynn was drafted out of Southern Cal in 1973 and made his debut on Sept. 5, 1974.

First priority

Farrell will not use Ortiz at first base for the three games at Dodger Stadium this weekend. Ortiz has not played first base all season because of his assorted physical issues . . . Dustin Pedroia is likely to get a day off Wednesday with Brock Holt playing second base . . . Seattle will call up lefthander Ariel Miranda from Triple A Tacoma to start Thursday. Miranda made his major league debut with the Orioles on July 3 and was traded to Seattle in the Wade Miley deal on Monday . . . Chris Young, out with a right hamstring strain, could start a minor league rehab assignment as soon as Monday. But catcher/outfielder Blake Swihart, on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle, could be looking at surgery.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.