Toronto Blue Jays: The 10 worst moves by GM Ross Atkins since 2015

May 15, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays president Mark A. Shapiro and Toronto Blue
May 15, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays president Mark A. Shapiro and Toronto Blue | Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
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4. Trading J.A. Happ for Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney

In what was to be the first major trade in the Blue Jays full rebuild under GM Ross Atkins, lefty workhorse J.A. Happ was moved on July 26, 2018 to the New York Yankees for infielder Brandon Drury and outfielder Billy McKinney. Happ was one of the best starters available ahead of that trade deadline, and was on a team friendly $13 million contract in the final year of his deal. While he was just a rental, he would go 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts and 63.2 innings down the stretch for the Yankees, with 63 strikeouts against only 16 walks, and an ERA+ of 157. In other words, “money”.

He also had postseason experience in 2016, so should have garnered a better return as the Jays went full rebuild. In 525 plate appearances for the Blue Jays, Drury would take at-bats away from replacement players while posting a -1.7 bWAR and pitiful .208/.253/.353/.606 slash line with an OPS+ well below league average at 61. In 407 plate appearances, McKinney also had an OPS+ below league average at 94 while slashing .230/.291/.439/.730. They did not accelerate the Blue Jays rebuilding efforts at all. Unfortunately, as you’ll see below, that wasn’t the worst trade (or non-trade) Atkins made (or didn’t make) in the rebuilding.

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