Blue Jays: Looking at former prospects traded at the deadline under Ross Atkins

Since Ross Atkins has taken over the Blue Jays back in late 2015, the club sports a 477-485 record (0.495%) through six and a half seasons. He inherited a veteran squad that made a playoff run in 2016 but lost out in the ALCS and over the next two to three seasons, traded away numerous veteran players as the club started to rebuild and acquire prospects to bolster the farm system.

This came to a head in 2019, when the club had numerous prospects like Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Cavan Biggio make their MLB debuts as the club posted a 67-95 record on the year.

Over the next two offseasons, the Jays started to buck the “Blue Flu” trend and signed some high-profile free agents in Hyun Jin Ryu (2020), George Springer (2021), and Kevin Gausman (2022), creating a squad that entered the 2022 campaign as a favourite to contend for the World Series.

Since becoming the Blue Jays general manager, Ross Atkins has made numerous trades at the deadline, lately involving prospects to enhance the active roster for postseason pushes.

Following the down 2019 campaign, the Blue Jays made the postseason during the shortened 2020 season but fell short in the AL Wild Card against the Tampa Bay Rays, who made it all the way to the World Series that year. It was this season that the Blue Jays started to really dive deep into their organizational prospect depth to acquire veteran players to help with a playoff push, making numerous trades in both 2020 and 2021. Atkins has also made deals that included Major League players like sending Rowdy Tellez to the Milwaukee Brewers last season but if the Jays are serious about contending this year, they will likely have to trade away some more prospects to acquire veteran players to help the current roster.

Let’s take a look at how the prospects Ross Atkins has traded away at the deadline are doing since leaving the Jays organization.

Hansel Rodriguez – RHP

Traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for OF Melvin Upton Jr.  – July/26/2016

An international free agent signing in early 2014, right-hander Hansel Rodriguez spent two and a half seasons in the Blue Jays system before being traded to the San Diego Padres. With the Jays, Rodriguez advanced as far as the Rookie League, playing both in the Gulf Coast and Appalachian Leagues.

After the trade, Rodriguez spent the next three seasons between Rookie League ball, A Ball, and the A+ league, struggling to stay healthy during that time while going on numerous rehab assignments. A starter with the Jays, the right-hander moved into a reliever role with the Padres and found success in 2019 with Advanced A Lake Elsinore Storm, sporting a 2.92 ERA through 19 appearances.

He became a Minor League free agent the following offseason and signed on with the Los Angeles Angels organization. While he didn’t pitch in 2020 due to COVID-19 shutting down the MiLB, he made one appearance in AA before ending up on the IL all season long and eventually hitting free agency again.

Rodriguez is currently pitching with the New Jersey Jackals in Independent Ball for the 2022 campaign. He has amassed a 2.14 ERA through 17 relief appearances and 21.0 innings pitched with a 12.9 K/9.

Guadalupe Chavez – RHP

Traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for RHP Scott Feldman – August/01/2016

A product of El Fuerte, Mexico, Guadalupe Chavez spent one and a half seasons in the Jays organization before being traded at the deadline to the Houston Astros.

The right-hander has had an interesting career since leaving the Jays organization, as Chavez finished the season in Rookie Ball and subsequently retired the following season. There was no known reason for his retirement at the time, as it was deemed a personal decision. Before hanging them up, Chavez pitched to a 1.38 ERA through 11 outings in 2016 in both the Jays and Astros organizations.

Chavez returned to the baseball diamond for the Astros in 2019 and started in Low-A, progressing to Single-A on July 10th, 2019. Since the end of that season, Chavez has only been playing baseball down in Mexico, both in the Mexican League and the Mexican Winter League. He is currently on loan with the Generales de Durango and has struggled to the tune of a 14.34 ERA through seven relief appearances this season.

Ryan McBroom – 1B

Traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for  UTIL Rob Refsnyder – July/23/2017

A 15th-round pick for the Blue Jays back in 2014, Ryan McBroom spent roughly three seasons in the Jays organization before being shipped off to the Yankees organization. He made it AA New Hampshire at the time of the trade sporting and was sporting a .723 OPS through 346 at-bats.

McBroom would be traded to the Kansas City Royals in late 2019 and would make his MLB debut days later, amassing a .293/.361/.360 slash line with six RBI and a .721 OPS through 23 games that season. Over the past two seasons, the righty batter flirted with the Royals roster but was never able to fully hang onto a spot, eventually being released this past offseason in order to sign overseas with the Hiroshima Carp in the Nippon Professional Baseball league.

Through 85 games with the active roster, McBroom owns a .286/.369/.463 slash line with 12 home runs, 52 RBI, and a .832 OPS through 311 at-bats

Cal Stevenson – LF

Traded to the Houston Astros as part of the trade package for OF Derek Fisher – July/31/2019

Drafted in the 10th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, outfielder Cal Stevenson was only in the Jays organization for just over a season before being included in a package deal alongside Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini in exchange for Houston Astros outfielder Derek Fisher. At the time of the trade, Stevenson owned a .298 batting average with five home runs and 50 RBI through 90 games.

Roughly six months later, Stevenson was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-hander Austin Pruitt. He was on the shelf for the 2020 campaign given the COVID-19 MiLB cancellation but spent all of 2021 in AA, amassing a .771 OPS split between left and centre field. He started the 2022 campaign in AAA but was traded eight days ago to the Oakland Athletics as part of the trade package for catcher Christian Bethancourt.

So far this year, the California product is sporting a .261/.378/.378 slash line through 61 games with three triples, three home runs, and 11 stolen bases on the season.

Alberto Rodriguez – OF

Traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP Taijuan Walker – August/27/2020

A product of the Dominican Republic, outfielder Alberto Rodriguez was traded at the 2020 deadline in exchange for two months of right-hander Taijuan Walker.

Rodriguez spent the 2018 season in the Dominican Summer League before coming stateside in 2019 to play in the Gulf Coast Rookie League, earning a .301 batting average and a .786 OPS through 47 games. The lefty-batter added 13 stolen bases as well as two home runs and 29 RBI before being dealt during the cancelled MiLB season.

Currently ranked as Seattle’s #7 prospect, Rodriguez continues to impress since joining the Mariners organization. He currently suits up in High-A and through 308 at-bats, he has amassed a .256/.325/.388 slash line with a .713 OPS and 30 RBI. Defensively, Rodriguez has spent a majority of this season in right field, owning a .958 fielding percentage with three assists.

He is also currently on the Mariners’ 40-man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft (that ended up being cancelled) but is held in such high regard that the club did not want to lose him this offseason, something that should not be taken lightly.

Travis Bergen – LHP

Traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for LHP Robbie Ray – August/31/2020

A seventh-round selection of the Jays in 2015, left-hander Travis Bergen is a unique player amongst the prospects that Ross Atkins has traded since becoming general manager of the Blue Jays. Bergen was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft and appeared in 21 games and pitched to a 5.49 ERA with an 8.2 K/9 before being sent back to the Blue Jays organization after he went on the 60-day IL with a shoulder strain.

Bergen made his Blue Jays debut in 2020 and spent most of the year in AAA before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for veteran Robbie Ray. He flirted with the Diamondbacks roster for the rest of the season before being traded back to the Blue Jays in the offseason for cash considerations. He spent the 2021 season split between the MLB and the MiLB before electing free agency in the 2021/2022 offseason, earning a 1.69 ERA through 10 relief appearances when with the Blue Jays.

The Georgia product signed with the San Diego Padres on a Minor League deal and has spent all season in AAA. The southpaw has 22 appearances on his record this season while pitching to a 3.97 ERA through 22.2 innings of work. The walks and command have been his biggest issue this year, as he owns a 7.9 BB/9 with 20 free passes compared to his 9.9 K/9.

Ryan Noda – OF

Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the package for RHP Ross Stripling – August/31/2020

As part of the package for Ross Stripling, outfielder Ryan Noda has always possessed a power bat, evident by his 40 home runs through three seasons in the Jays farm system. Prior to the trade, Noda was in High-A and hit to a .238/.372/.418 slash line through 378 at-bats, adding 13 home runs and 74 RBI as well as 14 stolen bases while patrolling the corner outfield positions.

Since joining the Dodgers, Noda has continued to mash, adding 29 home runs in AA during the 2020 season and has 12 home runs on the year so far in AAA. The Illinois product owns a .819 OPS with 15 doubles while finding himself now at first base, sporting a .987 fielding percentage through 52 starts.

Kendall Williams – RHP

Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the package for RHP Ross Stripling – August/31/2020

A second-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, right-hander Kendall Williams only spent half a season in the Jays farm system before being packaged alongside Ryan Noda at the 2020 trade deadline (mostly due to the cancelled 2020 MiLB season). His small sample size was strong, posting a 1.13 ERA through six appearances (five starts) with a 10.7 K/9 with only two earned runs allowed through 16.0 innings.

Featured on the Jays’ top prospect list at the time of the trade, Williams struggled in 2021 with the Dodgers, appearing in 23 games (19 starts) in Single-A ball and pitching to a 4.53 ERA through 93.1 innings with a 1.371 WHIP and an 8.4 K/9. His command was on point with his 2.1 BB/9 but he also allowed 14 home runs on the year with a 10.2 H/9, meaning opposing batters were seeing his pitches and putting the ball in play. Williams also made one Spring Training appearance at the Dodgers camp earlier that year, pitching a clean inning against the Texas Rangers allowing one hit, one walk, and striking out two batters.

He started the 2022 campaign in Single-A ball but was promoted to High-A in late April and is finding success with the Great Lakes squad. Through 51.1 innings, the 6’6″ right-hander has seen a slight dip in his K/9 (7.7) and a slight uptick in BB/9 (3.7) but is keeping runs off the board so far this season.

He has fallen off the Dodgers’ top prospect list, as he was ranked #23 at the end of the 2021 campaign, but could regain a spot if he continues to keep pitching well in High-A this year with an MLB ETA around 2024/2025.

Riley Adams – C

Traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for LHP Brad Hand – July/29/2021

With the Blue Jays needing bullpen help at the 2021 trade deadline, the front office dipped into their catching depth and sent Riley Adams to the Washington Nationals in exchange for veteran reliever Brad Hand. The move did not pan out for the Jays, as Hand struggled throughout August before being DFA’d while Adams finished the year as the Nationals’ backup catcher.

Before the trade, Adams had a cup of coffee on the Jays roster when both Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk found themselves on the IL. He went 3 for 28 during that time with two doubles and two walks while striking out 12 times, earning a .346 OPS before being optioned back down to AAA.

Adams won the Nationals’ backup catcher role out of Spring Training and struggled to find a rhythm at the plate this year. Through 27 games and 78 at-bats, Adams slashed .192/.284/.321 with three home runs and a .605 OPS while throwing out 20% of base stealers with one error behind the plate. The righty-batter would be optioned back down to AAA on July 1st.

J.J. D’Orazio – C

Traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the package for RHP Joakim Soria – July/29/2021

A product of Maracay, Venezuela, catcher J.J. D’Orazio signed with the Jays in mid-2018 and made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League the next year. After 13 games, the Jays moved him stateside to the Gulf Coast Rookie League, hitting to a .549 OPS with 11 RBI.

He split the 2021 campaign between Rookie League and Class A before being sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who then moved him back down to Rookie League ball to finish out the year. D’Orzaio has spent all season in Class-A ball and has amassed a .262/.363/.369 slash line with one home run, 17 RBI, and 26 walks with a .732 OPS. Behind the plate, he has thrown out 19% of base stealers with a .985 fielding percentage.

Yaifer Perdomo – LHP

Traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the package for RHP Joakim Soria – July/29/2021

Also hailing from Maracay, Venezuela, left-hander Yaifer Perdomo was traded alongside D’Orazio at the 2021 trade deadline for reliever Joakim Soria.

Before being traded, Perdomo started off the 2021 campaign strong in the Florida Complex League, owning a 2.45 ERA through 33.0 innings before struggling in Single-A split between both the Jays and Diamondbacks organizations through just eight combined innings.

Heading back to Single-A this season, Perdomo is struggling to keep runs off the board to the tune of 39 earned runs through 14 starts and 48.1 innings, striking out batters at a 12.3 K/9 with a 7.26 ERA.

Austin Martin SS/OF

Traded to the Minnesota Twins as part of the package for RHP Jose Berrios – July/30/2021

Falling to the Blue Jays at #5 in the 2020 MLB Draft, SS/OF Austin Martin was held in high regard after being drafted considering not many believed he would be on the draft board when Ross Atkins and co. stepped up to the podium.

While his professional debut was delayed until 2021, Martin started the year in AA New Hampshire and through 56 games and 196 at-bates, the righty-batter authored a .281/.424/.383 slash line with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs, and a .807 OPS while splitting time between centre field and shortstop.

The Jays were using him in a few different positions given Bo Bichette entrenched at shortstop but Martin ended up being included in the Jose Berrios acquisition at the 2021 trade deadline, one of the biggest trades of the season. At the time of the trade, Martin was within the Top #5 of the Blue Jays prospect rankings and finished the year ranked at #36 in the Top 100 list.

The Florida product started the 2022 campaign in AA this year in the Twins organization and has seen a slight dip compared to his days with the Blue Jays, authoring a .691 OPS with just one home run and 18 RBI with 22 stolen bases so far this year. The Twins have him at shortstop right now with a few starts at second base and centre field mixed in, sporting a .896 fielding percentage on the left side of second this year.

He has fallen off the Top 100 list but is still the Twins’ #2 ranked prospect. While the 2022 ETA may be a stretch considering he is still in AA and isn’t boasting the best numbers, he could factor in sometime next season especially if he can make it to AAA before the end of this season.

Simeon Woods-Richardson – RHP

Traded to the Minnesota Twins as part of the package for RHP Jose Berrios – July/30/2021

A product of the Marcus Stroman trade back in 2019, right-hander Simeon Woods-Richardson was one of the top pitching prospects in the organization alongside Alek Manoah until he was traded at the deadline last year.

Woods-Richardson had a great introduction in the Jays system to finish off the 2019 season but struggled towards the mid-point of the 2021 campaign after a strong start at the AA level. Through his first seven starts, SWR allowed only nine earned runs through 30.0 innings with 48 strikeouts. He also missed a few starts when he was with the US Olympics team but did not make any appearances during the tournament.

Prior to the Jose Berrios deal, Woods-Richardson was struggling on the mound, allowing 20 earned runs through 15.1 innings of work and seeing his ERA blossom to 5.76 ERA in New Hampshire. After the deal, Woods-Richardson finished the year in the Twins AA affiliate and had one rough outing out of four to finish out the season, allowing six earned runs through 1.2 innings during the appearance.

In 2022, Woods-Richardson has pitched to a 3.40 ERA through 11 starts and 53.0 innings, striking out batters at a 9.0 K/9 clip with a 3.2 BB/9. He is currently off the Top 100 list and is the Twins’ second-ranked pitching prospect sitting at fourth overall in the organization. A promotion to AAA by season’s end will have him on track for a 2023 ETA.