The Blue Jays Front Office Makes Headlines during Spring Training
Spring Training
The Blue Jays’ front office continued to make moves after the lockout was lifted, signing Yusei Kikuchi and trading for Matt Chapman, Raimel Tapia, and Bradley Zimmer.
Kikuchi joined the team on a three-year contract worth $36 million and struggled in his first season with the Jays, pitching to a 5.19 ERA through 32 appearances with 5.2 BB/9 and was relegated to the bullpen midway through the month of August.
Third baseman Matt Chapman was brought in to shore up the hot corner and did exactly that while putting forth 27 home runs and 76 RBI. The Jays also avoided arbitration with their new player, signing him to a two-year deal worth $25 million that will still see him hit free agency following this upcoming season.
Ross Atkins and co. also shipped out outfielder Randal Grichuk and some of his remaining salary to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for outfielder Raimel Tapia and prospect Adrian Pinto while also acquiring outfielder Bradley Zimmer from the Cleveland Guardians.
Zimmer was used as a defensive replacement and a pinch runner for most of the year while Tapia appeared in 128 games, posting a .265/.292/.380 slash line with a .672 OPS.