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Blue Jays acquire Solarte from Padres

Denis Poroy / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Toronto Blue Jays beefed up their infield depth Saturday, acquiring Yangervis Solarte from the San Diego Padres, the team announced.

In exchange for the veteran infielder, the Padres received outfield prospect Edward Olivares - the Blue Jays' 18th-best prospect, according to MLB Pipeline - and minor-league right-hander Jared Carkuff.

The 30-year-old Solarte played 128 games with the Padres last season, posting a .255/.314/.416 slash line with 18 home runs and three stolen bases while splitting time between second base, shortstop, third base, and the occasional game at first.

"We see him playing on a very regular basis," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. "Whether that be spelling second base, spelling shortstop, from time-to-time at third, he can play first, he’s been in the outfield before - it’s really just about versatility."

Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Olivares played 101 games with Single-A Lansing in 2017, slashing .277/.330/.500 with 17 homers and 18 stolen bases before earning a promotion to High-A Dunedin.

Carkuff, 24, had a 3.86 ERA in 63 innings between four minor-league levels last year. The 35th-rounder from the 2016 draft appeared in 34 games last season as a reliever.

While 2017 was a down year for Solarte, the utility infielder was coming off a 2016 campaign in which he hit 19 percent higher than the league average by wRC+ with a .341 OBP.

Solarte is under team control through the 2020 season and is set to make $4.12 million in 2018.

This is the second low-risk infield option the Blue Jays have added this offseason. Toronto acquired Aledmys Diaz from the St. Louis Cardinals in early December.

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