Blue Jays: Examining the prospects Ross Atkins has traded away- Part 2

2021

Hector Perez – Pitcher

• Traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations on January 22, 2021

Career MLB Stats: 1.2 innings pitched; 10.80 ERA; 3.600 WHIP; 1 strikeout; 3 walks

Acquired from the Houston Astros in the Roberto Osuna trade in 2018, pitcher Hector Perez would join the Blue Jays in AA New Hampshire where he has pitched the past two seasons. Perez would make his MLB debut with the Blue Jays last season, pitching in just one game and throwing 1.2 innings while giving up two earned runs with three walks and one strikeout. He would be demoted back to the alternate training site after his one game of action. This past winter, Perez spent time with Tigers del Licey in the Dominican Winter League, appearing in three games and pitching to a 9.00 ERA while giving up two earned runs with three walks and five strikeouts.

Perez would be traded to the Cincinnati Reds as a roster move to allow the Blue Jays to sign and add George Springer to the 40 man roster. He will most likely be out of the Reds bullpen this upcoming season but does have starting experience if needed.

Josh Winckowski – Pitcher

• Traded to the New York Mets alongside RHP Yennsy Diaz and RHP Sean Reid-Foley in exchange for LHP Steven Matz on January 27, 2021

A 15th round draft pick in 2016, Josh Winckowski spent the past four seasons in the Rookie League and all levels of the Blue Jays Class A Leagues. For his career, Winckowski has a 3.35 ERA with 237 strikeouts and a 1.297 WHIP over 263.0 innings. Used as a starter for most of his career, the Ohio native has started 50 games over 54 appearances and currently has an 18-17 record.

This off-season has been a whirlwind for Winckowski, as he would be traded to the Mets in late January and was recently traded to the Boston Red Sox earlier this week in a three-team trade that saw Andrew Benintendi head to the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander will most likely see a promotion to AA this upcoming season and sits as the Red Sox #30 top prospect.

Yennsy Diaz – Pitcher

• Traded to the New York Mets alongside RHP Josh Winckowski and RHP Sean Reid-Foley in exchange for LHP Steven Matz on January 27, 2021

Career MLB Stats: 0.2 innings pitched; 27.00 ERA; 7.500 WHIP; 0 strikeouts; 4 walks

Signing with the Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2014, pitcher Yennsy Diaz climbed his way through the organization’s farm system over five seasons, starting in the Rookie League and advancing all the way to AA. Diaz’s minor league stats with the Blue Jays are 3.84 ERA, 1.287 WHIP, and 429 strikeouts over 481.0 innings and 84 games started (96 appearances total). He would make his MLB debut in 2019 to disastrous results, pitching in just one game and walking four batters, giving up two earned runs with zero strikeouts.

Diaz would join a package deal and be sent to the New York Mets in exchange for pitcher Steven Matz in late January. The right-hander currently sits at #30 on the Mets top prospect list and could make the team’s bullpen this upcoming season since the starting rotation is jam-packed with talent. Diaz could also join the team’s minor league system and continue to be stretched out as a starter, waiting for an opportunity if someone on the MLB rotation gets hurt or traded.