Giants acquire Messenger for Benitez

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - The San Francisco Giants gave up on Armando Benitez Thursday night, trading the embattled closer back to the Florida Marlins for reliever Randy Messenger.

The Giants also will assume almost all of $5 million left on Benitez’s contract for the 2007 season.

The trade comes two nights after Benitez endured a meltdown in a 5-4 loss to the New York Mets. Benitez was called for a pair of balks before allowing a game-winning home run to Carlos Delgado in the 12th inning.

Benitez was 0-3 with a 4.67 ERA and nine saves in 19 games for the Giants this season and was a constant target of boos by Giants fans.

“I think we exercised as much patience and as much professional courtesy as we could,” Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. “I don’t take any satisfaction in anyone’s demise or inability to do their job. He was strong enough to be the whipping boy. We’re at a crossroads in my minds. We’ll see who’s strong enough to be the whipping boy now.”

The trade was announced shortly after the conclusion of Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the New York Mets.

The Giants are 25-28 and have dropped five of their last six games.

Benitez’s locker had been cleaned out by the time the media was allowed to enter.

“We’re heading more toward last place than first place and I don’t think that was all Armando Benitez’s fault,” said Sabean, who added that Benitez seemed stunned by the decision.

There was no immediate word as to who would fill the closer’s role. Righthander Brad Hennessey earned the save in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Mets.

The 34-year-old Benitez returns to the team where he had the most success. He played for the Marlins in 2004 and had a career-high 47 games.

Messenger was 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA in 23 games with the Marlins. In his career, he was 3-8 with a 4.98 ERA. He earned the win in Florida’s 9-0 victory Wednesday at Chicago, tossing two scoreless innings in relief of injured Sergio Mitre.

“He’s a big, hard thrower,” Sabean said.