Looking at former Blue Jays with their new teams this Spring Training

As the title of this article implies, I am going to take a quick look at how some former Blue Jays from the 2021 active roster, are faring so far with their new ball clubs as Spring Training starts to wind down over the next week and a half.

Robbie Ray – LHP

After posting a 2.84 ERA with 248 strikeouts last season with the Blue Jays, southpaw Robbie Ray signed a long-term deal with the Seattle Mariners this past offseason. The 2021 Cy Young winner has made two starts so far this spring and owns a 4.32 ERA through 8.1 innings. He has 11 strikeouts compared to four walks and has allowed one home run and four hits.

Steven Matz – LHP

Now with the St. Louis Cardinals after spending one season with the Jays, left-hander Steven Matz is off to a rough start with his new club. Through two outings, Matz has allowed nine hits, six earned runs, and one home run through just 3.2 innings pitched. Opponents are owning a .474 batting average against Matz but he has not allowed a walk and also has five strikeouts to his credit. Good thing Spring Training games do not matter right?

Marcus Semien – 2B

The third-place AL MVP last season is set to spend the next seven years with the Texas Rangers, turning a one-year “prove it” deal into one of the largest lucrative contracts this offseason. The second baseman has gone 4 for 17, collecting two doubles and one RBI with three walks and two strikeouts. Through 25.0 innings at second, Semien has also committed two errors and owns a .845 fielding percentage. Still a bit of an adjustment for the California product with his new team.

Riley Adams – C

One of the Blue Jays’ top prospects last season, catcher Riley Adams played in a handful of games with the club before eventually being traded to the Washington Nationals at the deadline in exchange for reliever Brad Hand. With the Nationals big league camp this spring, Adams only has five at-bats and two hits so far, but those two hits were both in the form of home runs, one straight away over the center field wall and the other being a no-doubter over the left field fence. It looks like he may begin the season in AAA with Keibert Ruiz most likely getting the bulk of the work behind the plate this year for the Nats.

Corey Dickerson – OF

Acquired mid-season from the Miami Marlins last year, outfielder Corey Dickerson also finds himself in St. Louis this season. A potential option for the Jays bench before signing with the Cardinals, the left-hander is 3 for 9 with one double so far this spring.

Brad Hand – LHP

A player most Blue Jays fans would like to forget, reliever Brad Hand struggled with the club after being acquired at the trade deadline last season. He lasted a month with the Jays before being DFA’d and finishing the season with the New York Mets. This offseason, the southpaw signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Through three appearances and 3.0 innings with his new club, Hand has allowed two hits and one earned run in the form of a home run to Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka (that was also the first batter the Phillies reliever faced this Spring Training), while also striking out four batters and hitting two as well.

Randal Grichuk – OF

Traded last week to the Colorado Rockies, outfielder Randal Grichuk has only eight at-bats with his new club but he has certainly made an impression early. He has three hits to his credit, which includes one double and a monster 450 foot home run to go along with one walk and one strikeout.

Numerous Blue Jays from the 2021 roster find themselves with new ball clubs this Spring, with some playing a lot better than others.

Joel Payamps – RHP

Traded mid-way through the 2021 campaign after being DFA’d, reliever Joel Payamps is still with the Kansas City Royals this year but has struggled through three appearances this spring, currently sporting a 9.00 ERA through three outings off of five hits and one home run.

Patrick Murphy – RHP

DFA’d last season, right-hander Patrick Murphy was picked up by the Washington Nationals and remains with the club this season. The reliever has pitched in 3.0 innings so far this Spring Training, surrendering one earned run compared to two strikeouts as he fights for a spot in the bullpen for Opening Day.

Jonathan Davis – OF

Joining the Milwaukee Brewers on a MiLB deal this winter, outfielder Jonathan Davis has struggled the most out of all the former Jays, currently sporting a goose egg in the hits column through 14 at-bats with seven strikeouts.

Bryan Baker – RHP

Pitching only one inning for the Jays last season, reliever Bryan Baker was DFA’d early into the offseason and was picked up by the Baltimore Orioles. He has a legit shot of breaking camp with the Orioles this season and is pitching well, collecting two saves and three strikeouts without allowing a hit through two games.

Travis Bergen – LHP

Famously traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Robbie Ray (and then re-acquired the following offseason) back in 2020, lefty Travis Bergen finds himself with the San Diego Padres on a MiLB deal this season. He sports a clean sheet through 2.0 innings pitched but is currently with the minor-league spring training camp and will most likely begin the season in AAA.