Marquis, Hairston dealt for prospects

The Nationals made a pair of deals the day before baseball’s nonwaiver trade deadline, sending Jason Marquis to the Arizona Diamondbacks and utilityman Jerry Hairston to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon.

The trade with Arizona came just hours before Marquis was scheduled to start against the New York Mets. Instead, Yunesky Maya — at Nationals Park just in case a move happened — was officially recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and made the start instead.

The Nats received minor league shortstop Zach Walters, a 2010 draft pick by Arizona who will be sent to Single-A Potomac.

Marquis was 8-5 with a 3.95 ERA for Washington in 2011. The Diamondbacks were expected to pick up the remainder of his $2.7 million contract. Marquis is a free agent at the end of this season. He originally signed with the Nats in January 2010 but missed three months last season thanks to elbow surgery.

“Last year was kind of frustrating being injured like that for the first time in my career,” Marquis said. “I had to do a lot of work to make sure that when I came back I was the old Jason Marquis. This year turned out the way I wanted. I’m throwing the ball the way I want and need to continue to get better. It’s an exciting time to know a team has enough confidence in you to be part of a postseason run.”

Meanwhile, the Nats received Double-A outfielder Erik Komatsu from the Brewers for Hairston.

Hairston signed a one-year, $2?million contract with Washington on Jan. 19. He batted .268 with a .342 on-base percentage and a .727 OPS. He appeared in 75 games and gave manager Davey Johnson — and Jim Riggleman before him — some versatility on the bench. He appeared in 44 games at third base primarily when Ryan Zimmerman was out for 58 games after abdominal surgery. He also spent time in center field, left field and second base and was even used at shortstop for the first time in his final game with Washington on Friday night against the Mets.

Milwaukee picked up the remainder of the contract, saving the Nats $704,000.

In 93 games with Double-A Huntsville in 2011, Komatsu batted .294 with six home runs, 19 doubles, a triple and 40 RBI.

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