Blue Jays trade Hernandez to Mariners for Swanson, pitching prospect
Teoscar Hernandez is heading to the West Coast.
The Toronto Blue Jays traded the star outfielder to the Seattle Mariners for reliever Erik Swanson and left-handed pitching prospect Adam Macko, both clubs announced Wednesday.
Hernandez, a two-time Silver Slugger and 2021 All-Star, went deep 25 times with 77 RBIs and an .807 OPS over 131 games for the Blue Jays last season.
"We began our offseason with the intent to add impact and length to our lineup. In adding Teoscar to an already solid foundation, we feel we've become a far more dangerous offensive club," Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a press release.
The 30-year-old is projected to make $14.1 million next season through arbitration and can test free agency at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.
Seattle is still looking at making an upgrade in left field despite employing AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez and the newly-acquired Hernandez to play in the outfield, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said three or four teams were very interested in Hernandez, but Seattle presented the best offer, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.
Swanson accrued a 1.68 ERA with 11.7 K/9 over 57 appearances for the Mariners in 2022. The 29-year-old right-hander gives the Blue Jays a high-leverage bullpen arm who's under team control for three more seasons.
Macko was the No. 8-ranked prospect in Seattle's minor-league system, according to MLB Pipeline. The 21-year-old posted a 3.99 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 38 1/3 innings (eight starts) in Single-A last season.
The Blue Jays are now interested in signing outfielder Brandon Nimmo following the Hernandez deal, sources told Morosi.
Nimmo would add a left-handed bat to a Toronto lineup that was righty heavy last year. The 29-year-old is considered to be the best free-agent outfielder outside of Aaron Judge on the open market after posting a career-high 5.4 fWAR with 16 homers and an NL-high seven triples for the New York Mets in 2022.
Atkins acknowledged George Springer would be willing to move to right field.
"If that does present itself, where there's an everyday center fielder that we can add, (and) it makes our team better, I know George will be open to (moving to RF)," Atkins said, according to Ethan Diamandas of Sports Illustrated.