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Outfielders headline waiver trade deadline as teams prepare for September

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Major League Baseball's waiver trade deadline rarely results in huge deals, but contending teams can still make upgrades while heading into the final month of the season.

The Cubs struck first, picking up Austin Jackson from the Seattle Mariners. While the Cubs were rumored to be involved in acquiring other players, the team was unable to get anything else done prior to the deadline.

Other contenders must have taken notice, as three more outfielders would change teams before the deadline passed.

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The Kansas City Royals acquired Jonny Gomes from the Atlanta Braves for minor-league shortstop Luis Valenzuela. The 34-year-old Gomes hasn't hit much over the past two years, but has consistently performed better against lefties over his career. He's not much of a threat defensively, so it looks like he'll mostly be used as a reserve/pinch hitter once the team reaches October. Gomes is also regarded as a strong clubhouse presence, and it's possible the Royals valued that down the stretch. There's no word on whether the Royals will utilize Gomes on the mound.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

The San Francisco Giants added Alejandro De Aza from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitcher Luis Ysla. De Aza's overall numbers for the season are underwhelming, though he's been much better since joining Boston. In 60 games with the club, De Aza has hit .292/.347/.484. He did so in just 178 plate appearances, so there's some concern about small sample, but it's clear the Giants think he has something left in his bat. Like Gomes, De Aza is expected to be used as a reserve down the stretch.

Finally, the Los Angeles Dodgers picked up Justin Ruggiano from the Mariners for a player to be named later. Ruggiano began the year in the majors, but was sent to Triple-A after hitting just .214. Ruggiano has been more effective against left-handers over his career, and will likely be used as a platoon/bench option in September.

None of the moves made Monday are considered major, though all four players can provide value for their clubs down the stretch. For teams in a playoff race, even the smallest tweak can make a big difference in October.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik