Blue Jays deal reliever Garcia to Mariners for pair of minor leaguers

The Toronto Blue Jays traded relief pitcher Yimi Garcia to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for two prospects on Friday.

The 33-year-old appeared in 29 games for Toronto this season, putting up a 3-0 record with five saves along with a 2.70 earned-run average.

The MLB trade deadline is Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Garcia, who becomes a free agent after the World Series, said he'd been expecting a move away from struggling Toronto.

"Everything is packed already," he said. "I was ready for it. We packed everything."

Garcia's .152 opponent batting average ranks fifth-best among American League relievers with at least 30 innings, while his 12.69 strikeouts per nine innings are seventh best.

The 34-year-old signed with Jays as a free agent after the 2021 season, making a combined 163 appearances in three seasons.

He has also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins and Houston Astros during a career spanning more than 400 major league games.

"Yimi has been one of the best relievers in the American League this year — dominating the strike zone, missing bats and pitching in high leverage," Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said in a news release. "He has big-game experience and we're excited to add him to our bullpen."

Garcia was one of several Blue Jays whose contract expires at the end of the season. Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Jansen, Kevin Kiermaier and reliever Trevor Richards are in the same situation as Garcia and are candidates to be moved before Tuesday's deadline.

Acquired in Friday's deal by Toronto was 22-year-old outfielder Jonatan Clase, who has appeared in 19 games for Seattle this year and was optioned to triple-A Buffalo.

The Jays also got catcher Jacob Sharp from the Mariners.

Clase, also 22, was the 10th-ranked prospect in the Mariners system. He made his MLB debut earlier this season and saw action in 41 games with a .195 average (8-for-41).

The 22-year-old Sharp was optioned to High-A Vancouver. He was playing for the single-A Modesta in the California League, where he hit .225 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 44 contests.

Dodgers' Freeman with sick son

First baseman Freddie Freeman was granted leave by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday to be with his ailing three-year-old son.

An American-Canadian citizen, Freeman was with the team when it travelled to Houston for the start of a weekend series against the Astros, but he exited ahead of Friday's contest to return to California.

Chelsea Freeman, Freddie's wife, wrote on Instagram that their son Maximus has transient synovitis, a temporary condition that causes hip inflammation and typically occurs in young boys.

According to Chelsea Freeman, Maximus first had a viral infection last week when the family was in Arlington, Texas, for the all-star game. Maximus was discharged from a California hospital early Wednesday but needed to return.

The ailment prevented the boy from sitting, standing or walking for three days, and he wouldn't eat, according to Chelsea Freeman.

"He certainly had a heavy heart the last few days," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Freeman, "and I just pray that Max is going to recover well and have a full recovery."

Freeman, an eight-time all-star, is batting .288 in 104 games this season with 16 homers and 67 runs batted in.

He holds dual citizenship as both his parents are from Ontario. He has also represented Canada in the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and last year.

Orioles acquire starter pitcher Eflin

The Baltimore Orioles spent much of Friday bolstering their pitching staff, then showed why it needed help.

Craig Kimbrel allowed a two-run homer in the ninth inning by Jurickson Profar, and the San Diego Padres beat Baltimore 6-4 on Friday night. Earlier in the day, the Orioles acquired reliever Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Cristian Pache in a trade with Philadelphia, then obtained right-handed starter Zach Eflin from Tampa Bay.

"Zach's somebody we've seen a lot and I've heard unbelievable things about him. Post-season tested," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. "He's a true professional. Everybody talks about how great of a guy he is and what he can bring to the clubhouse and our pitching staff, and we're looking for pitching and it's nice to add a quality starter like Zach."

Baltimore, the AL East leaders, are trying for their second straight division title, but the Orioles have had to work around season-ending injuries to starting pitchers Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells. The 30-year-old Eflin is 5-7 with a 4.09 earned-run average.

The Rays signed Eflin to a three-year, $40-million US deal before the 2023 season. He went 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA last year, setting career highs in strikeouts (186) and innings (177 2/3).