Checking in on how traded former Blue Jays are doing on their new clubs

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It has now been a month’s time since the Toronto Blue Jays had their mass exodus of players at the trade deadline. In doing so, the Jays had a huge influx of young talent that became a part of the organization as a result. Many of those prospects have gotten off to solid starts as the Jays appeared to have received some rewarding value so far with the trades that they had made.

But how about the former Blue Jays players that were traded at the deadline? Have they been just as successful as how the prospects have been turning out for Toronto? Let’s take a closer look at their performances to date with their new clubs.

Danny Jansen

Jansen has managed to maintain his usual production numbers with the Jays’ divisional rivals Boston Red Sox. That could be both a good and bad thing depending on how you see it. Good in that he has been consistent, but bad that his numbers weren’t too great to start with.

In 17 games to date, Jansen has hit .224 with a .656 OPS, along with 4 runs scored, 2 home runs and 5 RBI. Nevertheless, his highlight moment with his new club came on August 26 against the Jays when he officially became the first player in MLB history to suit up and play for both teams in the same game.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

After putting together a strong first half of the season with the Jays, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has fallen off quite a bit since joining the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite given all the opportunity to shine at the top of their lineup, Kiner-Falefa has struggled against National League pitching, compiling a .222 batting average, .593 OPS, with just 9 runs scored, 4 doubles, 2 triples, a home run and 7 RBI in 24 games played.

More alarmingly, he has been posting an uncharacteristic strikeout-to-walk ratio of greater than 11:1. It just so happened that the Pirates have also struggled along with Kiner-Falefa, playing less than .300 ball for the month of August. As a result, they have sadly dropped themselves out of serious contention.

Justin Turner

If Jays fans thought Justin Turner was underperforming during his time with Toronto, they haven't seen him in a Mariners uniform. Despite a hot start in which he registered 5 hits, one home run and 6 RBI in his first three games with his new club, things have all gone downhill for him since.

In total, Turner has posted a miserable .205 average, .570 OPS with 6 runs scored, one home run and 10 RBI in 22 games played. Which meant he has had just 4 RBI to show for in his past 19 games. As a result, Turner has now been moved further down in the lineup by the Mariners after starting off his tenure in the cleanup spot.

Yimi García

As the other Blue Jays player that also joined the Mariners’ organization, reliever Yimi García has endured some similar struggles as Turner did. In 10 appearances, García has amassed a dreadful 6.00 ERA, giving up 6 earned runs on 7 hits with 4 walks and 7 strikeouts over just 9 innings of work. In addition, the 3 home runs that he gave up over that stretch matched the entire total that he had in the 29 appearances with the Jays.

To make matters worse, García recently landed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation, making it the second time this season he has missed time with an elbow-related issue. It is also highly unlikely that he will return to action when first eligible to come off the IL on Sept. 4 based on his minimal rehab activity to date.

Nate Pearson

Reliever Nate Pearson got a fresh start when he was traded by the Jays to the Chicago Cubs at the deadline. The change of scenery has turned out to be exactly what the 28-year-old right-hander needed as he appeared to have found some new life with his new club.

In eight appearances thus far, Pearson has displayed great command while posting a strong 2-0 record with a 2.70 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, along with 2 walks and 13 strikeouts in 13.1 innings of work. We may have all seen Pearson and his spurts of dominance before, but hopefully this time around, it will be more sustainable so that he can still carve out a decent MLB career.

Trevor Richards

The main caveat of reliever Trevor Richards during his time with the Jays was his frustrating inconsistencies that he often displayed with his pitching. He would have a string of games where he pitched like one of the best relievers in the league. Next thing you know he would become a complete disaster in the following stretch.

After joining the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline, he did not disappoint in making sure that he gave the team the full Richards experience. Despite posting a respectable 4.15 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched over 10 appearances, he was scary erratic once again in the games that he lost total control of his command. However, unlike the Jays, the Twins were less patient to let Richards iron things out and quickly ended the experiment by designating him for assignment.

Kevin Kiermaier

With Kevin Kiermaier heading for retirement following the end of the 2024 MLB season, the Jays traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers to give him one more shot at a championship title. However, his days as a full-time contributing starter is likely behind him as he currently serves as a complementary piece to the Dodgers’ lineup as a part-time player.

Kiermaier has appeared in 18 games with his new club thus far, compiling a .231 average, .653 OPS, with 4 runs scored, one double, one triple, one home run, 5 RBI and one stolen base. His average and OPS numbers were actually a slight improvement from what he was putting up with the Jays this season. But with the Dodgers mainly looking for just his elite defense whenever he played, any modest offensive contributions would suffice for them.

Yusei Kikuchi

Finally, we have the newly, reinvented Yusei Kikuchi of all people. After being part of the blockbuster deal that netted the Jays with three promising top prospects, Kikuchi has evolved into a completely different pitcher since joining the Houston Astros. Over five starts, he has amassed a stellar 2.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, giving up just 9 earned runs on 10 walks and 35 strikeouts in just 28 innings pitched.

Even though it has been just a small sample size, he has shown renewed confidence and effectiveness in his pitching since making the proper adjustments in his mechanics with the Astros. Although many may have felt that the Jays fleeced the Astros in the trade transaction, if Kikuchi ends up helping the Astros to a deep playoff run, it could actually be a lot closer than most expected.

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