Blue Jays fan favourite is leaving the AL East

Former Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen will be playing for a team outside of the American League East for the first time in his career. According to MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Tampa Bay Rays are sending Danny Jansen to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jansen was originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round of the 2013 MLB draft and made his MLB debut five years later in 2018. He became a regular behind the dish for the Jays from 2019-2023. Over those seven years in Toronto, Jansen accumulated an 8.6 bWAR slashing .222/.308./425 with a .733 OPS. He hit 71 home runs, drove in 214 runners, and had 314 hits in 471 games played.

Jansen was one of the first guys that was called up and expected to be a part of that "next core" for the Blue Jays. He quickly became a fan favourite among the Jays faithful as he fit in with the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and more. However, just as quickly as Jansen got to the big leagues and was looked upon to be the 'catcher of the future' that future picture became a little murky with the emergence of Alejandro Kirk.

Kirk joined the Blue Jays during the COVID-19 shortened season in 2020 and made an immediate impression as well. While it looked like the Blue Jays had their starter and their back up catcher roles set for the foreseeable future it was clear that a decision was going to have to be made eventually as to which guy they wanted to anoint as the number one catcher.

With his contract coming to an end at the end of the 2024 season, and the Blue Jays well out of the playoff picture, Toronto made the decision to go with Kirk for the long haul and at the deadline they dealt Jansen to the Boston Red Sox for a package of three minor league players; Gilberto Batista, Cutter Coffey and Eddinson Paulino. The following spring training, Kirk signed a contract extension.

In 30 games after the deadline, Jansen was not able to produce in the way the Red Sox had hoped he would. He hit just .188 with three home runs and 19 strikeouts, however he did walk 15 times and got on base at a modest .323 clip. But the results weren't good enough for the Red Sox brass to want to bring Jansen back and so he entered free agency for the first time at the age of 30.

In December, he joined his third MLB organization, and third team in the AL East by signing an $8.5 million deal with the Rays. The deal also includes a $12 million mutual option for 2026. But it will now be up to the Brewers and Jansen to exercise that part of his contract. Jansen looked like he was on his way to earning the right to executing his side of that option. After 73 games with the Rays he produced a 1.8 bWAR with 11 home runs, with a .314 on-base percentage.

However, Tampa has decided to ship off Jansen to the Brewers who are in a dead heat for the NL Central lead. It will be the first time Jansen plays for a team outside the AL East but it presents a big opportunity for Jansen to play in the postseason for the first time in 2022. He didn't play in either of the Blue Jays playoff games in 2023, and the Red Sox missed the playoffs in 2024.