SEATTLE -- The flurry of moves general manager Jerry Dipoto pulled off at this year's non-waiver Trade Deadline prompted a pair of Minor League options for players who had been performing.
"It's not really much about numbers, it's more how the pieces fit together," Dipoto said. "It's hard because we're a numbers-driven business and the players are all looked at and evaluated that way, but it's pieces. You gotta have the right pieces to put the puzzle together."
Outfielder Ben Gamel and reliever Chasen Bradford will each head down to Triple-A Tacoma to make room for newly acquired pieces outfielder Cameron Maybin and reliever Adam Warren.
Gamel slashed .290/.360/.395 as the Mariners' fourth outfielder in 2018. Bradford went 5-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 34 appearances this season, working mainly as a reliever who entered when Seattle was trailing in close games.
"First of all, both those guys have options," said manager Scott Servais. "You have the right to send them to the Minor Leagues and you keep your depth, which is a really good thing.
Guillermo Heredia, formerly the everyday center fielder before the acquisition of Maybin, will stay on the roster to provide Servais with more defensive flexibility and a platoon option to pair with Denard Span in left field.
Guillermo had pretty much been a platoon type player and we have exposed him to everyday at-bats," Servais said. "It's been a little bit tougher for him. It has not hurt his defense at all."
Servais added that Gamel was a less advanced outfielder defensively than Heredia, who will also likely enter late in games as a defensive replacement in the outfield.
Maybin was in Wednesday's lineup against the Astros -- playing center field and batting sixth. He put up a .251/.338/.343 line with the Marlins in 2018, an improvement over Heredia's .227/.312/.332.
Warren will join a Mariners bullpen corps that is much deeper than it was prior to the Deadline. In 24 middle-relief appearances this season with the Yankees, he posted a 2.70 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched.
"With Bradford's case, obviously with Warren coming in, experienced guy, you make a trade," Servais said. "Chasen has thrown the ball well, his numbers certainly speak to that. The conversation wasn't easy, but I think he understands where we're at as a team."
Servais also made the point that he expects both Bradford and Gamel to be back on the big league roster before the season ends.
"I still think Ben Gamel and Bradford play a big role in us getting to the playoffs, I really do," Servais said. "It could be in two weeks, it could be on Sept. 1, but these guys are going to play and be a part of what we're doing here, it's just you can only have 25 on the roster right now."
Healy scratched
Starting first baseman Ryon Healy was scratched from Wednesday's lineup. Andrew Romine shifted from third to first and Zach Vincej was slotted in at third.
Seager to return
Everyday third baseman Kyle Seager used his third and final day of paternity leave on Wednesday. He will return for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.