Mariners make outfield upgrade, getting Maybin from Marlins

Blue Jays also busy, continue selling and restocking for future

SEATTLE — After remodeling the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen, Jerry Dipoto thought he was done making deals a day before the non-waiver trade deadline.

That was before he was able to upgrade the one obvious position where Seattle could use help.

Seattle acquired outfielder Cameron Maybin from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, giving the Mariners a boost in the outfield going into the final two months of the regular season. Seattle landed Maybin in exchange for minor league infielder Bryson Brigman and international slot money.

Centre field was the one obvious position where Seattle could use an upgrade.

Since moving Dee Gordon to second base, Guillermo Heredia has seen the majority of the time in centre field. And while Heredia is outstanding defensively, his bat hasn’t provided much to Seattle’s lineup.

Heredia is hitting .229 with a .314 on-base percentage and 22 runs scored. Heredia was batting .302 on May 29, but his average has taken a nose dive. In the past 51 games played, Heredia is hitting just .184.

Maybin has been the opposite offensively, batting .251 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 99 games this season. He’s batting .329 with a .912 OPS since June 29.

The Mariners are the seventh team for the 12-year veteran, who has a $3.25-million, oneyear contract. Maybin also has post-season experience, playing in the World Series last year with Houston.

Maybin was the last of Seattle’s four trades in the days leading up to the deadline. Seattle also acquired relief pitchers Sam Tuivailala, Adam Warren and Zach Duke in a trio of deals.

The acquisition of Maybin will likely put to rest any thought of moving Gordon back to centre field late in the season following the return of Robinson Cano from his 80-game suspension.

Dipoto said the intent was to leave Gordon at second base, but that he may see time in the outfield. Getting Maybin likely means Cano will be moving around to positions other than second base once he returns.

Brigman is batting .304 for Single-A Modesto. He was a third-round pick in 2016 but hasn’t played above Single-A.

Toronto trades Loup, Axford for prospects before deadline

TORONTO — The Blue Jays traded two relief pitchers for prospects before Tuesday’s deadline, sending long-serving left-hander Aaron Loup to the Philadelphia Phillies and Canadian right-hander John Axford to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 30-year-old Loup, the longest-tenured Blue Jay before the trade, was dealt for minor-league right-handed pitcher Jacob Waguespack.

Axford, 35, was traded for right-hander Corey Copping.

Tuesday’s deals ended a busy period for Toronto that also saw the Blue Jays send controversial closer Roberto Osuna to Houston and dependable left-handed starter J.A. Happ to the New York Yankees.

The cumulative return for the Blue Jays is a mixed bag. Some new acquisitions such as infielder Brandon Drury and closer Ken Giles are major-league ready, while others will bolster the Jays’ system for now.

“Adding these pieces is extremely exciting,” Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Tuesday on a conference call. “We’re going to have a lot of opportunity over the off-season to optimize our young talent with the right complimentary pieces.”

Some of the bigger names on the move at the deadline included Brian Dozier to the L.A. Dodgers and Chris Archer to Pittsburgh.