Re-grading past Blue Jays trade deadline deals with 20/20 hindsight

Blue Jays acquire SP José Berríos from the Twins in exchange for SS Austin Martin and SP Simeon Woods-Richardson

The Blue Jays made one of the bigger splashes at the 2021 trade deadline acquiring José Berríos from the Twins in exchange for two of the teams’ top prospects at the time, in Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson. Martin was drafted fifth overall in the 2020 draft, and was ranked as the 16th best prospect in baseball at the time of the trade, but has since battled injuries and has not yet grown into the prospect he was touted as. Woods-Richardson has pitched just 9.2 major league innings in his young career so far and has struggled in AAA this year after a strong 2021 campaign at both AA and AAA. The two prospects are currently ranked as the 11th and eighth best prospects respectively in the Twins system. 

Berríos threw 70.1 innings with the Jays during the second half of the 2021 season and owned a 3.58 ERA and 125 ERA+. He suffered the worst season of his career in 2022 with a 5.23 ERA and 72 ERA+. leading the league in both hits and earned runs allowed. This year however, the two-time all-star has regained his command and confidence, owning a 3.64 ERA and 112 ERA+. Aside from last year's debacle of a season for Berríos' ERA has been consistently under 4.00 during his career and remains an above average pitcher with great stuff. 

Last season this trade looked like it was surely to backfire, but it obviously looks a lot better now that Berríos is back to himself and contributing to the teams’ success at a high level. Neither Martin or Woods-Richardson have had any impact for the Twins, now almost two seasons removed from the trade, though they both still have time and the talent to succeed in the majors. 

Grade: B