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Report: Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays Swap Michael Saunders, J.A. Happ

By Phil Watson

Sep 27, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays opening pitcher J.A. Happ (48) pitches against Baltimore Orioles in the fifth at Rogers Centre. Blue Jays won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays opening pitcher J.A. Happ (48) pitches against Baltimore Orioles in the fifth at Rogers Centre. Blue Jays won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to a report, the Toronto Blue Jays are continuing to tinker this offseason, acquiring outfielder Michael Saunders from the Seattle Mariners.

The Seattle Mariners have traded outfielder Michael Saunders to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for left-hander J.A. Happ, according to a report.

ESPN’s Jayson Stark, citing a source, reported the deal Wednesday evening.

Saunders, 28, who had two stints on the disabled list this year, was limited to 78 games this season. He missed two weeks with shoulder inflammation and more than a month with a strained left oblique.

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When he was available, he hit .273/.341/.450 with eight home runs and 34 RBI.

Saunders actually handled left-handed pitching well, as well, hitting .262/.352/.328 in 73 plate appearances.

All eight of his homers were hit off right-handers, however.

Saunders had 19 home runs for the Mariners in 2012 and 12 in 2013. He was an 11th round pick by Seattle in the 2004 amateur draft out of Tallahassee Community College in Florida, but he is a Canadian native.

Happ, 32, spent the last two-plus seasons in Toronto, going 11-11 with a 4.22 ERA and 1.335 WHIP in 30 appearances, 26 starts, and 158 innings in 2014. He served up 22 home runs, as well.

He previously pitched with the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros, having burst onto the scene by going 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA and 1.235 WHIP in 166 innings in his first full season with the Phillies in 2009.

Happ was also selected in the 2004 draft, taken in the third round out of Northwestern University.

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