Mariners land RHP García, ship prospects to Jays

The Seattle Mariners, lower than 24 hours after touchdown Randy Arozarena, made one other splash on the commerce market Friday, buying reliever Yimi García from the Toronto Blue Jays, the group introduced.

Outfield prospect Jonatan Clase and minor league catcher Jacob Sharp had been despatched to Toronto within the commerce.

García was one of many prime relievers accessible earlier than Tuesday’s commerce deadline. The 33-year-old right-hander has a 2.70 ERA and a couple of.64 FIP in 29 appearances this season. He is held opponents to a .152 batting common, the eighth-lowest mark amongst relievers who’ve thrown not less than 30 innings this season. Hitters have compiled a .526 OPS. His 36.5% strikeout fee ranks seventh.

Mariners supervisor Scott Servais did not outline a job for García because the Mariners view the again finish of their bullpen as interchangeable, however he’ll actually be requested to pitch in excessive leverage moments.

“Excellent competitor. He is obtained great things,” Servais mentioned.

“We do not actually have an eighth-inning or seventh-inning man. Wherever we will discover the best pocket for him. He can tackle numerous completely different roles.”

In contrast to Seattle’s anemic offense, which has been the principle offender within the membership’s current descent, the aid corps has been largely efficient this season. The Mariners’ bullpen, which has logged the fewest innings in baseball because of one of many sport’s greatest beginning rotations, ranks eleventh within the majors in ERA, thirteenth in FIP and fourth in strikeout fee.

However a necessity for a again finish reliever might need surfaced Wednesday, when right-hander Gregory Santos exited his outing in opposition to the Los Angeles Angels with a knee damage. Santos, acquired in February from the Chicago White Sox, made his season debut on July 9 after beginning the yr on the injured listing with a lat pressure.

Santos’ setback arose after the Mariners positioned star middle fielder Julio Rodriguez (ankle) and shortstop J.P. Crawford (fractured hand) on the injured listing earlier in a dismal 1-5 homestand that concluded Wednesday with a 2-1 loss to the Angels.

Clase, who made his main league debut in April, had two stints with the Mariners this season, batting .195 with a .452 OPS in 19 video games. The 22-year-old Dominican slashed .274/.373/.483 with 10 house runs in 59 video games for Triple-A Tacoma.

Sharp, 22, hit .255 with a .773 OPS in 44 video games in Single-A this season, his first full season as a professional. The 5-foot-7 catcher was taken within the seventeenth spherical out of UNLV final yr.

For the Blue Jays, considered one of baseball’s greatest disappointments this season, the commerce is the primary of what’s anticipated to be a number of strikes to shed veterans for younger expertise earlier than Tuesday’s deadline. Seattle, in the meantime, is trying to cease a free fall earlier than it is too late.

The Mariners sat atop the American League West standings with a 10-game lead on June 18. That cushion evaporated in simply over a month; they’ve since gone 10-20 and entered Friday’s collection opener in opposition to the White Sox one recreation behind the blistering Houston Astros.

The entrance workplace, because of this, selected to behave. Late Thursday night time, it addressed an offense with the third-lowest OPS in baseball by including Arozarena, maybe the perfect hitter who shall be traded earlier than the deadline. On Friday, they bolstered the bullpen with one of many market’s most coveted relievers. Time will inform if the strikes make a distinction.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers contributed to this report.