The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)

Astros swap for suspended reliever Osuna

- The Associated Press

Sports shorts

Swapping a closer with on-field problems for one with off-field troubles, the World Series champion Houston Astros have traded Ken Giles to the Toronto Blue Jays along with a pair of pitching prospects for Roberto Osuna.

Houston also sent right-handers David Paulino and Hector Perez to Toronto as part of the deal Monday, a day before the deadline for trades without waivers.

The 23-year-old Osuna is eligible to pitch in the major leagues starting Sunday after a 75-game suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. He has made six scoreless one-inning appearance­s in the minors since July 14, the last three at Triple-A.

Osuna has not pitched in the big leagues since May 6, two days before he was put on administra­tive leave when he was charged with one count of assault in Toronto, which remains pending. Osuna is 0-0 with nine saves in 10 chances and a 2.93 ERA in 15 games this season. He was an All-Star last year, when he went 3-4 with 39 saves and a 3.38 ERA.

Osuna would be eligible to pitch in the postseason.

The 27-year-old Giles is 0-2 with 12 saves and a 4.99 ERA this season. Giles was optioned to Triple-A Fresno on July 11, a night after he appeared to curse at Manager A.J. Hinch when he lifted him from the game.

MARINERS ACQUIRE VETERAN DUKE » The Seattle Mariners have added to their bullpen by acquiring left-handed reliever Zach Duke from the Minnesota Twins for a pair of minor leaguers.

Seattle made a second move in a matter of days to bolster its relief corps. Seattle sent pitcher Chase De Jong and infielder Ryan Costello to the Twins on Monday, less than 24 hours before the non-waiver trade deadline.

Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said recently he was hoping to add another righty to the bullpen and pick up a left-handed reliever as well. He accomplish­ed both by acquiring Sam Tuivailala from St. Louis late last week and then landing Duke. The Mariners are in the middle of the AL West and wildcard races.

The 35-year-old Duke is 3-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 45 appearance­s for the Twins. He has limited left-handed batters to a .237 average this season.

The Mariners will be Duke’s seventh team in the last six seasons. He signed with Minnesota in the offseason.

Minnesota made its third trade in three days. The Twins sent infielder Eduardo Escobar to Arizona and dealt reliever Ryan Pressly to Houston.

The 24-year-old De Jong started 21 games for Double-A Arkansas, going 5-5 with a 3.80 ERA. The 22-year-old Costello hit .266 with 70 RBI for Class A Clinton.

To replace Duke on the 25-man roster, the Twins reinstated Addison Reed from the 10-day disabled list. He missed the last 16 games with right triceps tightness

NFL

DARNOLD ENDS HOLDOUT, SIGNS WITH JETS » The New York Jets have signed Sam Darnold to a four-year, $30.25 million deal, ending the rookie quarterbac­k’s contract holdout.

Darnold missed the first three days of training camp practice while his representa­tives and the team worked out the details of his contract.

The Jets announced the signing Monday with a post on Twitter featuring a short video of Darnold saying he’s happy to be signed and calling it a “very special moment.”

The 21-year-old quarterbac­k was the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft in April. He is expected to compete with Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewate­r for the Jets’ starting job.

While the amount of Darnold’s contract was already clear under the NFL’s wage slotting system, the hang-up appeared to be over contract language.

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