Blue Jays: Traded last year, how are they doing this spring?

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DUNEDIN, FLORIDA – MARCH 02: A general view from the outfield at TD Ballpark during a spring training game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 02, 2021 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Last season, the Toronto Blue Jays decided to dip into their prospect/player pool and acquired some veteran talent to help push for the postseason. While the team would get bounced in the wild card series against the Tampa Bay Rays, it was the first time the Blue Jays had reached the postseason since 2016 and their first trip since the organization went through a few tough rebuilding years.

This article looks at the prospects that were traded at last year’s deadline (which was August 31st due to the COVID delay) and how they are performing with their new teams so far this spring.

Griffin Conine – Outfielder

Traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for infielder Jonathan Villar

The Toronto Blue Jays 15th top prospect back in 2019, outfielder Griffin Conine played two seasons with the organization before being traded last season. For his minor league career, Conine has amassed a .266/.348/.515 slash line with 29 home runs, 97 RBI, and a .863 OPS in 137 games spread across Rookie League and Class A with the Blue Jays.

Known for his raw power in the batter’s box, the left-handed hitter did struggle with strikeouts and specifically with off-speed pitches when he was a member of the Blue Jays farm system. Son of former MLB player Jeff Conine, he would miss 50 games during the 2019 campaign as he tested positive for ritalinic acid, a banned substance under the MLB/MiLB.

Griffin Conine, son of Mr. Marlin Jeff Conine, goes to Marlins for Villar.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 31, 2020

This Spring, Conine did not receive an invite to the Marlins MLB training camp, but does find himself as the organization’s 20th ranked prospect. Considering his father was known as ‘Mr. Marlin’ and the organization drafted him back when he was a high school student (he did not sign and went to Duke instead), the story kind of makes sense that the younger Conine would find himself in the Marlins organization at some point in his career. Look for Conine to begin the season in AA.

Kendall Williams – Pitcher

Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with 1B/OF Ryan Noda in exchange for pitcher Ross Stripling

Chosen by the Blue Jays in the second round during the 2019 draft, Kendall Williams only pitched one season in the Blue Jays farm system before being shipped off to the Dodgers at last year’s trade deadline.

A rising pitcher at the famed IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, the 6’6 right-hander has a wide-ranging arsenal and will most likely see an increase in his velocity as he continues to develop and grow in the Dodgers farm system. While with the Blue Jays, Williams would make six appearances (five starts) for the Rookie League Gulf Coast Blue Jays and would pitch to a 1.13 ERA with 19 strikeouts and a 0.813 WHIP across 16.0 innings.

#BlueJays announce they've sent No. 13 prospect Kendall Williams to the #Dodgers as one of two PTBNL for Ross Stripling. Scouting report, tool grades, stats, video & more on the 2019 second-rounder: https://t.co/koGPio0Y8P pic.twitter.com/WrMX641FnJ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 1, 2020

Currently ranked as the Dodger’s 25th top prospect, Williams earned an invite to the MLB training camp and has appeared in one game for the team this spring, surrendering one hit and one walk along with two strikeouts and no earned runs in one inning of work. The right-hander will most likely find himself in A-ball this season with a few years of development to go before seeing any potential MLB action.

Ryan Noda – First base/Outfield

Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with pitcher Kendall Williams in exchange for pitcher Ross Stripling

Included alongside Williams in last year’s deadline trade to the Dodgers, first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda was the other ‘player to be named later‘ to complete the exchange for current Blue Jays pitcher Ross Stripling.

Drafted in 2017, Noda spent three years in the Blue Jays farm system, reaching High-A and crafting a .272/.422/.478 slash line with 40 home runs, 193 RBI, and a .900 OPS in 307 games. He was invited to the Blue Jays spring training camp this year before being dealt on February 23.

Noda was also invited to the Dodgers Spring Training camp this year, featured in 10 games with 12 plate appearances so far this Spring. The former Blue Jays prospect has a .111/.333/.111 slash line with six strikeouts, one walk, and one RBI off of one hit. The Illinois native will most likely begin the season in AA for the Dodgers.

DUNEDIN, FL – FEBRUARY 24: Travis Bergen #79 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at TD Ballpark on February 24, 2020 in Dunedin, Florida. The Blue Jays defeated the Braves 4-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Travis Bergen – Pitcher

Traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitcher Robbie Ray

One of the only Blue Jays players to have MLB experience before being traded at the deadline, reliever Travis Bergen has been through a few different organizations over the past few years.

The left-hander would be selected by the San Francisco Giants during the 2018 Rule 5 draft and would pitch in 21 games with the club before being sent back to the Blue Jays in mid-August. Last season, Bergen would appear in one game for the Jays before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks where he would appear in seven more contests before the season came to an end. For his MLB career, Bergen has amassed a 4.82 ERA over 28.0 innings, striking out 29 batters and crafting a 1.464 WHIP along the way.

Travis Bergen continues his outstanding relief. 4.1IP, 11K, 2BB only runs allowed were in the spring debut. He might be the most improved arm in the org, on the 40-man over the last year plus. Great lefty depth with Liriano, Borucki, and Mayza. #bluejays
— Ben Wagner (@benwag247) March 26, 2021

This spring, the Blue Jays would re-acquire Bergen from the Diamondbacks in a straight-up player for cash deal, with the former seventh-round pick earning an invite to the Blue Jays Spring Training camp. Bergen has appeared in six games this Spring, throwing to a 3.18 ERA with 11 strikeouts and two walks, surrendering one home run and two earned runs in 5.2 innings.

With the organization announcing that Tim Mayza and Trent Thronton will be making the Opening Day bullpen roster, it appears that Bergen may not make the Blue Jays come April 1st, but he could still be a candidate to make spot appearances over the course of the season given his remaining MiLB options. The left-hander will most likely find himself at the alternate site and in AAA when the minor league season begins, and it helps that he’s currently on the 40 man roster.

Alberto Rodriguez – Outfielder

Traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Taijuan Walker

Another outfielder dealt at the trade deadline, Alberto Rodriguez joined the Blue Jays organization as an international free agent back in 2017. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez would spend 2018 in the Blue Jays Dominican Summer League before jumping stateside to play with the Rookie League Gulf Coast Blue Jays. For his minor league career, Rodriguez has amassed a .274/.356/.392 slash line along with seven home runs, 63 RBI, and 34 stolen bases in 108 games.

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Now a member of the Seattle Mariners, Rodriguez did not receive an invite to the organization’s MLB spring training camp and will most likely start that season in the Rookie League or in A ball. He is currently the Mariner’s 17th ranked prospect.

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