Blue Jays pull off minor trade with Tigers after trade deadline passes

The 2024 MLB trade deadline may have come and gone already for the Toronto Blue Jays. But that surely didn’t stop them from making more moves, albeit a minor one. Last Thursday, the Jays executed a minor league trade that sent right-handed reliever Troy Watson to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations.

Despite the fact that the deadline has passed, the Blue Jays were able to make this swap for a few reasons. Watson could only be moved because he met these criteria:

• Signed to a minor league contract
• Wasn't on the 40-man roster at any point this season
• Was not on the MLB injured list at any point this season

Watson was selected in the 15th round by the Jays back in the 2018 MLB Draft out of University of Northern Colorado. Despite having some early success in the Jays’ lower minor league levels, he has struggled in the past couple of seasons trying to adjust to the higher levels. This season, playing primarily for the Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons in both a starter and relief role, Watson had compiled a 3-5 record with a dismal 8.61 ERA, 2.09 WHIP, giving up a whopping 66 hits including 14 home runs, 30 walks and 48 strikeouts in just 46 innings pitched.

For his overall minor league career though, the numbers were somewhat better as he has posted a 15-18 record with a 4.27 ERA, 1.42 WHIP with 219 strikeouts in 265.1 innings of work over 117 games (including 37 starts). Nevertheless, Watson never got his opportunity to shine at the major league level for the Jays as was he never ranked among the Jays’ top 30 prospects over his six years with the organization.

At 27 years old, Watson will now get a fresh start with the Tigers’ organization. With the Tigers having lost key arms in starter Jack Flaherty and reliever Andrew Chafin at the deadline, the addition of Watson will help replenish some of their lost pitching depth. With some work to do on his growth and development, they will hope he can regain some of his earlier form and become a serviceable piece in the near future for the club. For the time being, he will begin his journey with the Tigers at Triple-A Toledo.