Blue Jays: How former players moved this summer are doing elsewhere

The Toronto Blue Jays made numerous moves since the start of the season and around the trade deadline, acquiring players to help different areas of the roster while also trading away some prospects and designating veterans for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster.

This article will take a look at players who were either traded away, DFA (and picked up elsewhere), or released (and signed elsewhere) since the beginning of the season and examine how they are doing with their new ballclub.

*For the purpose of consistency, if a player is designated for assignment and then traded, they will fall under the DFA subheading instead of the trade subheading, as the first action was being DFA prior to the trade*

Traded

June 19th – Troy Miller (RHP) traded to the New York Mets in exchange for Jacob Barnes (RHP)

A right-handed pitcher who spent the last three seasons within the Blue Jays minor league system, RHP Troy Miller had been with the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats for less than a month before being traded to the New York Mets. The deal itself was not earth-shattering, a simple swap of pitchers to help a Jays’ pitching corps struggling with injuries.

Miller would join the Mets AA affiliate in Binghampton and appeared in two games before heading to the IL, throwing to a 5.23 ERA through 10.1 innings, both games he started. Miller is currently on the 60-day IL.

June 29th – Joe Panik (INF) and Andrew McInvale (RHP) traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Corey Dickerson (OF), Adam Cimber (RHP), and cash

The first trade that acquired a veteran presence in the bullpen, Ross Atkins sent infielder Joe Panik and minor league pitcher Andrew McInvale to the Florida Marlins for Corey Dickerson and reliever Adam Cimber. The Blue Jays did not need another outfielder in Dickerson but took on a chunk of his remaining contract along with Cimber to get the deal done, which is looking to be a bit of a steal given how well the right-hander is doing in the pen as well as Dickerson’s left-handed bat in the lineup.

Since joining the Marlins, Panik has hit to a .171/.267/.224 with one home run, four RBI, and a .491 OPS through 31 games. A bit of a regress from his time with the Jays, where he slashed .246/.293/.351 with a .644 OPS through 42 games.

McInvale would report to the Marlins AA affiliate and has also been roughed up since joining the organization, pitching to a 7.11 ERA through 19.0 innings with 15 earned runs, 14 walks, and 29 strikeouts out of the pen. Opponents own a .250 average on the right-hander and he has thrown to a 1.74 WHIP through 17 appearances.

Trades Continued

July 06th – Rowdy Tellez (1B) to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Bowden Francis (RHP) and Trevor Richards (RHP)

In another move to add depth to the bullpen, the Blue Jays traded first baseman Rowdy Tellez to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for reliever Trevor Richards and prospect Bowden Francis, who now ranks as the organization’s 30th ranked prospect. Richards has become one of the more dependable arms in the Jays’ bullpen, throwing to a 3.38 ERA through 21.1 innings while Francis has been touched up a bit, owning a 4.53 ERA through nine starts with 24 earned runs through 47.2 innings.

Heading to the Brewers was hard-hitting Tellez, who gained a lot of respect and attention from the Blue Jays fanbase. Since heading to the Brew Crew, the lefty slugger owns a .279/.350/.500 slash line with seven home runs, 24 RBI, and a .850 OPS through 44 games. He is putting together a pretty strong campaign since joining the Brewers, as he wasn’t going to get regular playing time at first base with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. entrenched at the position and a plethora of options at the designated hitter position.

July 29th – Riley Adams (C) to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Brad Hand (LHP)

Attempting to add another veteran arm to the bullpen, Ross Atkins went out and acquired southpaw Brad Hand in exchange for catcher Riley Adams. Adams was the club’s 19th ranked prospect at the time of the trade and made his major league debut earlier this season when Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen were both on the IL. With the Jays, the righty-batter hit .107/.167/.179 with zero home runs and zero RBI and just struggled at the plate before being sent back down to AAA.

Adams would begin his Nationals tenure in AAA but would be recalled to the major league club once they traded Yan Gomes to the Athletics at the trade deadline. Since joining the active roster, Adams has been outstanding, appearing in 19 games and slashing .341/.442/.568 with two home runs, seven RBI, and a 1.010 OPS. While the sample size is obviously small, Adams is playing well and appears to be making most of the opportunity.

Considering the Blue Jays designated Brad Hand for assignment after putting up pretty rough numbers, it is safe to say that the Nationals have won this deal.

July 30th – Austin Martin (INF/OF) and Simeon Woods-Richardson (RHP) to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Jose Berrios (RHP)

The biggest trade for the Blue Jays at this year’s trade deadline, Ross Atkins acquired starter Jose Berrios in exchange for two top prospects in Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson. Those who valued prospects within the franchise were pretty torn by the trade but considering Berrios still has another year of control after this season, the price for established starting pitchers of the right-hander’s caliber being pretty high.

Both prospects were sent to the AA affiliate within the Twins organization, with SWR still yet to make an appearance for the club since being acquired. He was with the United States national team at the Tokyo Olympics last month but it is surprising that the right-hander has yet to make an appearance for his new club yet.

Martin on the other hand has a .256/.407/.422 and a .829 OPS since joining the Wichita Wind Surge, collecting three home runs and 17 RBI through 90 at-bats. He has already eclipsed his home run and RBI totals with the Wind Surge compared to his time with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and has an OPS that is roughly 20 points higher.

August 2nd – John Axford (RHP) to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations

Signed by the Blue Jays to a minor league contract after an impressive run with Team Canada at an Olympic Qualifiers event, Simcoe, Ontario’s John Axford spent just over a week in the organization before being traded to the Brewers.

In his first appearance with his new club, the right-hander would go 0.1 innings while giving up two earned runs, a hit batter, and a walk before being pulled. Axford would then go on the disabled list with an elbow injury and is currently on the 60-day IL.

Designated for Assignment

April 30th – Tanner Roark (RHP)

Signed by the Blue Jays prior to the 2020 season on a two-year, $24 million dollar deal, Tanner Roark was known for pitching deep into ballgames, labeled the “Diesel Engine” by his peers.

Roark was unable to live up to the moniker in Toronto, as he compiled a 6.80 ERA through 11 starts with the club and never pitched more than 5.0 innings throughout the season. He surrendered 14 home runs in the COVID-19 shortened season and just could not find a rhythm. A slow start to the 2021 campaign put the nail in the coffin and Roark was designated for assignment at the end of April, with the Jays on the hook for the rest of his salary for the year.

Roark would be released by the club in early May and sign with the Atlanta Braves on a minor league contract just over a week later. So far with the Braves AAA affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers, the right-hander has appeared in 23 games and found his form again in the bullpen, pitching to a 2.23 ERA through 44.1 innings while starting only three games, striking out 43 batters and collecting two saves.

The Braves did call Roark up to the roster in late July but optioned him back three days later, with the Illinois product not seeing any game action. He is currently still in AAA.

With numerous players being moved or designated this year, this article takes a look at former Blue Jays and how they are faring in 2021 with their new clubs.

May 30th – Ty Tice (RHP)

Making his major league debut with the Blue Jays this season, reliever Ty Tice rode the options bus a few times for the club this season. The right-hander would pitch to a 5.14 ERA through four games and 7.0 innings, walking four batters while striking out six. His debut was one to remember, as he faced the heart of the Los Angeles Angels order, including Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, and walked away with zero earned runs, one hit, one walk, and one hit batter.

To make room for newly signed Carl Edwards Jr. on the 40-man roster, the Jays would DFA Tice late in May.. He would later be traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations and would spend most of his time in AAA with the Gwinnett Stripers. He did make one appearance for the Braves on June 24th, going 1.0 innings while allowing a hit and a walk with zero earned runs, before being optioned back down to the minors.

The Arizona Diamondbacks would claim Tice off waivers from the Braves on August 5th and would be optioned to their AAA affiliate, the Reno Aces, where he owns a 30.86 ERA through 2.1 innings. He is currently on the development list.

July 16 – Joel Payamps (RHP)

Going through a few different organizations this past Winter, RHP Joel Payamps eventually settled in with the Blue Jays. The right-hander would pitch well with the club, throwing to a 2.70 ERA through 22 appearances with 11 walks and 22 strikeouts while being optioned and recalled multiple times before being DFA in a surprising move on July 16th.

Payamps would be traded to the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations on July 21 and has also been riding the options bus with his new club. So far this season, Payamps has appeared in six games with the Royals, pitching to a 3.00 ERA through 6.0 innings. In AAA, the Dominican product has been a bit shaky, owning a 4.50 ERA through eight outings with 14 strikeouts and four earned runs through 8.0 innings of work.

Released

June 24th – Jared Hoying (OF)

Signed to a minor league contract after the season began, Jared Hoying was another depth signing given the injury to fellow outfielder Josh Palacios in AAA. Hoying had spent the past few seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization and was returning stateside to play ball.

After a few weeks in the minor leagues, Hoying was called up to the big league squad and appeared in three at-bats, going hitless with one strikeout. The outfielder would be outrighted to the Buffalo Bisons on June 22nd but would elect for free agency, deciding to head back to the KBO league and signing with the KT Wiz.

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August 10th – Tommy Milone (LHP)

Signed by the Blue Jays in late February, left-hander Tommy Milone was additional depth in the organization if the club needed to rely on a veteran arm who possessed both starting and relief experience. With the club experiencing quite a few injuries to the pitching corps, Milone was called into action rather early in the campaign and would go on to pitch to a 6.43 ERA through 14.0 innings with one start, striking out 17 batters with three walks.

He would end up on the injured list to begin the month of May and would be moved to the 60-day IL a month later with left-shoulder inflammation, missing a good chunk of the season. He would go on a rehab assignment in late July before being released by the Jays on August 10th.

He would later sign a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on August 24th and is currently with their AAA minor league affiliate and has appeared in only one game.

August 29th – Carl Edwards Jr. (RHP)

Signed to a minor league contract early in the season, Carl Edwards Jr. was a veteran player struggling to find a place on a major league roster. After a few successful seasons with the Chicago Cubs early in his career, Edwards Jr. was brought into the Blue Jays organization to provide depth in the bullpen given the various injuries.

He would appear in one game for the club and would surrender three earned runs through 0.1 innings pitched, his only game before ending up on the injured list for most of the year. He was in the minor leagues on a rehab assignment prior to being released and is currently a free agent.