Blue Jays: Ranking the Year’s Past Trades

It’s approaching September, and we are currently watching the Blue Jays team that we were all expecting way back in March. This roster began forming way back in 2015, when the Jays signed a teenage Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as an International Free Agent. Since then, pieces have continued to be added and subtracted in the hopes of creating that ultimate roster that’s capable of going all the way. Through development, key free agent signings, and many trades, the Blue Jays currently sit at a 76.8% chance of making the postseason per Baseball Reference. Despite losing two impact players from the previous year, this year’s club has improved in many facets of the game.

Better defence and pitching has been a large part of the club’s identity, to go along with a ever-so gifted offence. This roster has been boosted since this past winter, most notably through a number of trades. The process of addition began in the offseason, ceased over the course of the lockout, picked up once Spring Training commenced, and concluded at the beginning of August after the trade deadline. The players, front office, and fans alike have no choice but to be content with the additions made.

At this point, it’s a suitable time to take a step back and compare these trades to each other. All players have, who have been both acquired and shipped off, have had ample opportunities to provide results to their respective clubs. Deciding if a trade was good or bad is an interesting conversation, and to me it comes down to four things;

1. What was given up?
2. How large of a need was it for the Blue Jays?
3. How have the received player(s) performed?
4. How have the given up player(s) performed?

With this criteria in mind, let’s rank the seven trades made by Ross Atkins since this past offseason.

7. Bradley Zimmer (OF) for Anthony Castro (RHP) 

This trade was completed with the purpose of adding competent depth to the outfield, and I believe it did that, and only that. Zimmer, who has since been DFAd and joined the Phillies, before re-joining Jays recently, is a gifted fielder. Fangraphs has him at 5 DRS and an OAA of 2. However, he is generationally untalented in the batter’s box. Through 87 plate appearances as a Jay he accrued a 27 OPS+, which translates to him being 73% worse than the average major league hitter.

On the positive side, Atkins didn’t give up much to receive Zimmer. Anthony Castro, a former Tigers prospect, worked 24.3 innings out of the Jays pen the season prior. Castro possesses a plus slider, leading to high K numbers. Despite his potential, he’s seen minimal impact in Cleveland this year, only throwing 13.1 innings in a stacked bullpen that already features Emanuel Clase and James Karinchak.

Overall, this trade could ultimately be considered a wash for both clubs. Neither players made significant impact on their respective new teams.

6. Zack Collins (C) for Reese McGuire (C) 

This was a swap of catchers which made a lot of sense at the time, and still does to this point. Made towards the end of Spring Training, the trade brought in a catcher who fit the Blue Jays roster better than Reese McGuire did. Zack Collins is a left-handed hitting catcher with power, who lacked in the defence department. Collins also had minor league options left on his contract. McGuire, who’d been with the organization since 2016, was the opposite of Collins’ makeup. A glove first catcher with little offensive potential, who was also out of options.

Overall, Collins has struggled during his time in Toronto’s organization. His low average, on-base, and power output doesn’t mesh well with being a below average fielder, and his performance in AAA Buffalo in the meantime hasn’t turned any heads either. But, how could anyone forget about his April. During a time with not much offence to cheer about, Collins was a spark plug in the early part of the season. In April, he hit to an .816 OPS while both catching and DH-ing. He excelled in the clutch too, hitting .429 with two outs and runners in scoring position in the limited opportunities he had in those situations. Needless to say, he cooled off, and Collins has essentially been a non-factor since May.

Regardless of Collins’ struggles, McGuire didn’t exactly pan out either. His time on the White Sox saw him hit .225 and produce a 56 OPS+. He would later be traded to the Red Sox, where he’s gotten off to a hot start.

Much like the seventh ranked trade on this list, this transaction remains sort of redundant. Neither players have made or left significant impacts on their new organizations.

5. Whit Merrifield (UTL) for Max Castillo (RHP) and Samad Taylor (UTL)

A confusing trade initially, but as the weeks went on afterwards, Whit Merrifield‘s purpose became clear. With Springer being restricted to DH duties, a capable and experienced presence was needed to take reps in the outfield, and in came Merrifield. On days where Tapia takes reps in centre, Whit is also capable of playing a solid second base.

His 16 games as a Blue Jay haven’t knocked anyone’s socks off. A .229/.302/.292 slash line isn’t overly impressive, but his above average defensive ability and quickness have been a breath of fresh air when he’s in the lineup. Whit will continue to play a similar role down the stretch, and also seemingly going into the next few years, as he does not become a free agent until at least after 2023.

The haul given up for the veteran utility man wasn’t overly impressive. RHP Max Castillo and minor league UTL Samad Taylor went the other way in the deal. Castillo had thrown some important innings for the Jays prior to that point in the season, but wasn’t a major player in present or future plans. Taylor was having an admirable season in AAA, but again, not a major factor in Toronto’s future plans.

4. Raimel Tapia (OF) and Adrian Pinto (UTL) for Randal Grichuk (OF) and cash

This swap during Spring Training was a bit of a shock. Raimel Tapia and Randal Grichuk are opposites of each other. Tapia, the contact heavy, strikeout resistant player, while Grichuk utilized a more all or nothing approach that led to inconsistency. Regardless, both served similar roles, a reserve outfielder capable of offensive contribution, and can play all three outfield spots.

Tapia has been somewhat mediocre during his time in Toronto. Outside of a few electric moments, including a walkoff sac-fly and an inside the park grand slam, his 86 OPS+ isn’t quite what a club would want from an outfielder receiving a fair amount of playing time. The more underrated part of the acquisition for the Blue Jays was the least known name in the deal, Adrian Pinto. Pinto, a free agent signee from Puerto Rico, was coming off of a season in Rookie Ball which saw him post a 1.029 OPS while spending time in the middle infield and centre field. While taking a step back during his time in Dunedin this year, the tools are still there for him to be a productive player.

In terms of the cost for the Jays, Grichuk and about nine million in cash hasn’t proved too steep of a cost. The former Blue Jay wields a slashline of .275/.318/.371 over 112 games played this season. While Grichuk’s overall numbers aren’t awful, his .598 OPS on the road shows that he’s getting a friendly boost from the altitude at Coors Field.

This deal served a purpose for both clubs, as the Rockies needed more pop in the outfield, and the Blue Jays sought to diversify their offensive makeup. However, the addition of Pinto in the deal grants the Blue Jays an edge in my books.