Blue Jays: A look at Curtis Granderson’s market

After the Blue Jays dealt J.A. Happ to the Yankees on Thursday afternoon, it is just a matter of time until we see another trade happen. Curtis Granderson has generated some interest over the last week, here’s a look at his market.

The Blue Jays have completed two deals so far by sending right handed reliever Seunghwan Oh to the Rockies and J.A. Happ to the Yankees. The next one to go could be and probably will be, Curtis Granderson. The Cubs, Phillies, and recently the Yankees, and Athletics have been linked to Curtis Granderson in trade rumours.

The 37-year-old is having a decent season in limited at bats with the Blue Jays. His slash line is .229/.332/.408 with nine homers and 29 RBI’s which have led to a very fine 103 OPS+ on the year, in just 245 at bats. His OBP, his power, and of course his veteran presence and great example to young players is what’s most appealing to contenders.

The 14 year major league veteran will not bring a very valuable return as he is a rental, and 37 years old. He’s also just an average platoon batter against right handed pitching with certain power.

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

All that said, just to give you an idea of what he could bring in return, the New York Mets got 25-year-old right handed reliever Jacob Rhame from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Granderson last season, who was having a similar campaign. Rhame has bounced back and forth between Triple-A and the Mets bullpen where he’s pitched to a 5.74 ERA in 15.2 innings. They aren’t good numbers by any means, but the Mets did get a young arm who hasn’t done bad in the minors and could one day eventually find some success in the bigs. You can expect anything from relievers.

The Blue Jays could try and get a similar return for Granderson who could help a young Phillies ball club for example. The Cubs also expressed interest, and the Yankees could be strongly interested since losing Aaron Judge with a wrist injury. Ken Rosenthal also reported on Friday afternoon that the Oakland Athletics are seeking a left handed hitting outfielder.

Granderson will almost surely be traded, and whatever the return will be, it’ll be good enough. General Manager Ross Atkins mentioned last night that the focus now was to acquire controllable pitching. Granderson will not bring a top prospect to Toronto, but if the Jays manage to get a relief arm who’s in the minors, similar to what the Mets got last season by trading Granderson to the Dodgers, it would not only bring a younger controllable player, but it would also open the door for recently acquired Billy McKinney to come up and have some action in the Blue Jays outfield.