Mariners bolster bullpen acquiring Yimi García from the Toronto Blue Jays

Updated Jul. 26, 2024 8:52 p.m. ET

Associated Press

The Seattle Mariners bolstered their bullpen acquiring right-hander Yimi García from Toronto on Friday in a deal that sent top prospect Jonatan Clase to the Blue Jays.

Just hours after Seattle acquired Randy Arozarena from Tampa Bay, the Mariners added another arm to their bullpen. Both players could be with the team in time for Saturday's game in Chicago against the White Sox.

“When they get here, hopefully will give us a shot in the arm," Seattle manager Scott Servais said.

Seattle then dealt right-hander Ryne Stanek to the New York Mets for minor league outfielder Rhylan Thomas.

García said he was ready for the trade, saying “everything is packed already,” but had mixed emotions leaving Toronto.

“I’m happy that I’m going to the Mariners, or course. They’re contending right now,” García said through an interpreter.

García has appeared in 29 games and has a 2.70 ERA with 42 strikeouts and just eight walks. He missed about a month due to a nerve issue in his elbow but returned to the Blue Jays bullpen following the All-Star break.

A year ago, García made a career-high 73 appearances for the Blue Jays. García will be slotted into a bullpen that has been short-handed from the start of the season.

“We’ve just got to find the right pocket for him,” Servais said. “He can take on a number of different roles. He’s done that in the bullpen and he’s got good stuff. You can see him pitch at the end of the game on certain nights. You can see him pitch in the eighth, seventh, wherever. That’s just how we run our bullpen.”

Matt Brash never pitched for the Mariners this year due to elbow troubles and had Tommy John surgery.

Gregory Santos, another expected late-inning bridge to closer Andrés Muñoz, missed the first 91 games due to a lat strain and suffered a knee injury in Seattle’s loss on Wednesday to the Los Angeles Angels. Servais said Santos had an MRI “that came back OK," and he could be available for Saturday's game.

Seattle started Friday in second place in the AL West, one game behind Houston, but coming off a miserable stretch that’s seen the Mariners drop eight of nine. They were 9-20 since June 19.

The move to add Arozarena came late Thursday night and should help an offense that's badly struggled. Seattle has scored two runs or fewer in seven of its past nine games and is without center fielder Julio Rodríguez and shortstop J.P. Crawford, who are both on the injured list.

“He's a proven run producer. Certainly is a dynamic player. Is a really good base stealer," Servais said. "He's got power, he's hit for average in the past. ... He brings a lot of energy along with it and we need all those things right now — the production, the energy, the personality.”

Along with Clase, the Blue Jays will receive minor league catcher Jacob Sharp. Clase has appeared in 19 games this season for Seattle and batted .195 while playing both center and left field. Clase is ranked as one of Seattle’s top 10 prospects and hit .274 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 59 games for Triple-A Tacoma this season.

Sharp is currently playing for Class A Modesto in the California League. He was a 17th round pick out of UNLV in 2023.

Thomas, 24, was selected by the Mets in the 11th round of the 2022 amateur draft. He was batting .265 with five homers, 31 RBIs and 11 steals in 74 games at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse.

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AP freelance writers Ian Harrison in Toronto and Matt Carlson in Chicago contributed to this report.

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