Mariners deal lefty prospect to Blue Jays for OF Teoscar Hernandez

The Seattle Mariners acquired All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for reliever Erik Swanson and lefty pitching prospect Adam Macko. Hernandez, a two-time Silver Slugger recipient and one-time All-Star, is eligible to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season. "We began our off-season with the intent to add impact and length to our lineup," said Jerry Dipoto, Seattle's president of baseball operations, in a news release. "In adding Teoscar to an already solid foundation, we feel we've become a far more dangerous offensive club." Hernandez, 30, batted .267 with 25 homers and 77 RBIs in 131 games last season. Swanson, 29, made 57 appearances (one start) with Seattle in 2022, posting a 3-2 record with three saves and a 1.68 ERA. Macko, 21, is rated as the No. 8 prospect in the Mariners' farm system by MLB Pipeline. He was a seventh-round pick in 2019. Macko pitched only 38 1/3 innings during the regular season in the minor leagues due to a left elbow strain and injured meniscus in his right knee. He recently returned to game action in the Arizona Fall League and was given a clean bill of health. Hernandez recorded career-high totals in batting average (.296), homers (32) and RBIs (116) during the 2021 campaign. He is a career .262 hitter with 133 homers and 380 RBIs in 651 games with the Houston Astros and Blue Jays. --Field Level Media