The MLB hot stove is simmering.
In a big American League trade, the Toronto Blue Jays are sending former All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners, the clubs announced. In exchange, the Mariners are sending back righty reliever Erik Swanson and lefty pitcher Adam Macko.
Hernandez is the most famous name in the trade. The 30-year-old made the All-Star Game in 2021 when he hit 32 home runs, had 116 RBIs and an .870 OPS. This past season, he batted .262 with 25 home runs, 77 RBIs and an .819 OPS.
Swanson, 29, had a solid season in relief for the Mariners in 2022. In 53.2 innings spread across 57 outings, he had a 1.68 ERA, a 0.913 WHIP and tossed 70 strikeouts. He spent time in the Yankees’ minor-league system from 2016-18.
Macko, a 21-year-old prospect, pitched for the High-A Everett AquaSox in 2022, and for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.
The Blue Jays and Mariners both made the playoffs this past season as wild cards. The Mariners were 90-72, while the Blue Jays were 92-70. The two actually played each other in the postseason, with the Mariners advancing to the ALDS after a two-game sweep in the wild-card round.