Blue Jays deal Jason Grilli to Rangers

The Toronto Blue Jays have shipped Jason Grilli and cash considerations to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Eduard Pinto.

The Blue Jays recently designated the struggling reliever for assignment closing the book on the fan favorites tenure north of the border. Grilli was unable to recapture his 2016 spark this season allowing 16 runs including 9 home runs in 20.2 innings of work.

In exchange for Jason Grilli, the Jays receive 22-year old outfielder Eduard Pinto who was playing high A ball for the Rangers. Pinto looks like to be more than just a throw-in hitting .309 in 398 career minor league games.

This season Pinto owns a slash line of .311/.358/.446 with 4 home runs and 7 stolen bases in 46 contests with the Down East Wood Ducks of the Carolina League. The native of Venezuela leads the Ducks in batting average and has flip-flopped between right and left field defensively this season.

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Grilli caught lightning in a bottle last season after being shipped to Toronto for minor leaguer Sean Ratcliffe. The reliever was paramount to the bullpen’s success last season acting as a set-up man for closer Roberto Osuna and providing veteran leadership.

The Jays picked up Grilli’s option at the end of the season that saw the hurler earn $3 million dollars this season.

Unfortunately, it appeared Father Time caught up the 40-year old forcing the Blue Jays hand to designate the aging arm. Texas has been riddled with injuries and underperforming relievers so felt the risk was worth the reward in taking a chance on the former first-round draft pick.

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No doubt a large percentage of Jays fans will not be happy that Jason will be “Firing up the Grilli” in Texas from here on out.