Toronto Blue Jays: Ideas and Trade Partners for Randal Grichuk

Prior to the 2018 season, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired OF Randal Grichuk, for RHP Dominic Leone and pitching prospect Conner Greene.  The former Angels 1st round pick was immediately given an every-day role with a then-rebuilding Blue Jays team.

After swatting 25 dingers and a 107 OPS+ in his first season as a Blue Jay, one week into the 2019 season – with two years still left of control – he was rewarded a five year, $52 million extension. This was only hours after the Jays traded away their defensive highlight reel man, CF Kevin Pillar, solidifying Grichuk as a piece of the future.  At the time it made sense as the Blue Jays had aspirations to contend in the near future (and plenty of payroll room) and not much for promising outfield prospects (Anthony Alford and Jonathan Davis among them, but both no longer with organization).

With the Blue Jays no longer in rebuild mode and now striving for playoff/World Series contention, it is clearly stated over the last year how many fans want Grichuk’s contract gone due to the flaws in his game – GIDP machine, very streaky hitter, when he’s on a cold streak, he’s COLD.  However, and to be fair, if we’re going to point out the flaws, the positives need to be made as well.  He lead the Blue Jays in home runs and RBI over the 2019-2020 seasons combined.  When George Springer went down with an injury at the start of last season, he filled the needed CF role on both sides of the ball, and from April thru June, he had 14 HR and a wRC+ of 102, proving to be a viable replacement (though the same stat rest of the season was a very poor 62).  Although he’s definitely not top of the lineup hitter, he has played whatever role needed by this organization during his tenure.

Entering the 2022 season, Grichuk is still owed $10.333-mil in each of the next two years according to Spotrac.  It is not a great contract, but there are worse currently out there across the league.  All that said, while there is still value to the Jays due to his ability to play CF if Springer were to go down again – it may be better to reallocate that money to fill another need if there is a trade partner out there.

Just because a player brings a certain value to one team, doesn’t mean the same for others.  Especially when you are talking about potential contract swaps – though they could go the route of dumping him and including a prospect to minimize the amount eaten, but I wouldn’t expect that – and actually think Grichuk is worth more than that. The Jays need a trade partner who has a need for an average OF (100 OPS+ last 4 years), that can capably play CF, while adding some pop.  A team that also would like to either shed payroll or reallocate a contract of their own to their outfield.

Here are a few potential suitors: