What happened: The Seattle Mariners have acquired infielder Buddy Kennedy, adding to their bench and infield depth. The move bolsters a roster that has hovered around .500 through the first half of the season. It marks Seattle's latest effort to shore up its infield depth.

Why it matters: Seattle sits at 42-43 and is leaning on incremental roster upgrades to stay in the mix. A versatile infielder gives the club more flexibility against both right- and left-handed pitching and insurance against injury. Depth additions like this often signal a front office trying to stabilize a club fighting to climb back above .500.

What to watch: Watch for how Seattle deploys Kennedy in the infield rotation and whether the move foreshadows additional roster maneuvering ahead of the deadline.