SEATTLE -- For Jerry Dipoto, the search to add talent to the Mariners’ system didn’t stop just because this year’s Trade Deadline passed on Monday.

The Mariners general manager claimed former first-round Draft choice Phillip Ervin off waivers from the Reds on Thursday and will give him a look in the season’s final weeks, while also adding right-hander Walker Lockett to the active roster after claiming him from the Mets on Wednesday.

Ervin hasn’t gone on the 28-man roster yet as he’ll need to pass COVID-19 testing before any move is made, but like Lockett, the 28-year-old is out of Minor League options and would need to be designated for assignment and clear waivers before he could be sent to the alternate training site in Tacoma.

Thus it appears the Mariners are at least willing to see what they’ve got with Ervin at the Major League level, where he’s posted a .250/.320/.415 line with 17 home runs and 15 stolen bases in 219 games with the Reds over the past four seasons.

Ervin, the 27th overall pick in the 2013 Draft out of Samford University, hit .271 in 94 games with Cincinnati last year. But he struggled badly this season, batting .086 in 35 at-bats in 19 games before being designated for assignment on Friday.

Lockett will also get a chance to show what he can do in the remaining 23 games as he’ll join a Mariners bullpen that has eight relievers on the Injured List and just traded Dan Altavilla and Taylor Williams to the Padres. The 26-year-old has been a starter for most of his pro career and pitched in two games for the Mets this season.

The Mariners have been off for three days after having their Tuesday-Thursday series with Oakland postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test in the A’s organization, but they're scheduled to resume play Friday at 6:40 p.m. PT against the Rangers at T-Mobile Park.