TORONTO – The hype surrounds Juan Soto, as it should. Anytime a 23-year-old Hall of Famer is traded, that deal deserves all the attention it gets.
But from the Toronto Blue Jays’ perspective, the more significant changes before Tuesday’s trade deadline occurred in the American League. On a day when most (but not all) AL contenders were taken, the Blue Jays completed four trades, at least two of which could be considered surprises.
Their day went like this:
•Acquired relievers Anthony Bass and Zach Pope with a player to be designated later by the Marlins for prospect Jordan Groshans.
• Acquired pitcher Mitch White and shortstop Alex DeJesus from the Dodgers for pitching prospects Nick Frasso and Moises Brito.
• Acquired utility player Whit Merrifield for prospects Samad Taylor and Max Castillo.
• Traded Jeremy Beasley to the Pirates for cash.
“We’re so excited about this team and the acquisitions,” GM Ross Atkins said afterward. “The current and future value of each of these deals is truly exciting.”
Of course, this is only one part of the picture. Across the league, some of the Blue Jays’ opponents have improved significantly, while others have begun trading away impact players. Here’s how things changed ahead of the 2022 trade deadline and what it means for the Blue Jays as they push for the playoffs…
Actually, let’s sell
Baltimore Orioles
Additions: Outfield Brett Phillips, prospects Seth Johnson, Chase McDermott, Cade Povich, Yenier Cano, Juan Nunes and Juan Rojas. Outs: First baseman Trey Mancini, reliever Jorge Lopez.
The Orioles entered the deadline 2.5 games out of the third wild-card spot, but their playoff chances were just 2.4 percent, according to FanGraphs. GM Mike Elias decided to sell.
“At the end of the day, I have to tie my decisions to the prospects and probabilities for this year,” Elias told reporters on Monday. “We have a chance for the wild card right now, but we’re not likely to win the wild card.”
Rationally, this wasn’t going to be the year the Orioles won it all, so if some of the acquired prospects became legitimate long-term contributors, it would have been worth it. Meanwhile? Yeah, those comments won’t play well in the club.
Meaning for Blue Jays: This bodes well for the Blue Jays, who will face this depleted Orioles team 15 more times.
Silence in Central
Cleveland Guardians
Additions: Reliever Ian Hamilton Subtractions: Catcher Sandy Leon
If you thought the Guardians would be motivated to make meaningful moves in hopes of closing the 1.0 game gap that separates them from the AL Central leading Twins, you’d be wrong. In order for Cleveland to return to the postseason, they will need to add to their existing roster.
Importance to Blue Jays: At this point, it’s hard to see the Guardians pushing the Blue Jays for the top wild card spot.
Chicago White Sox
Additions: Reliever Jake Diekman Subtractions: Catcher Reese McGuire
Maybe Diekman will push the White Sox over the top. Or maybe it’s just not their year and they’re acknowledging it by clapping.
Importance to Blue Jays: Like the Guardians, they seem unlikely to get past the Blue Jays.
Threading the needle
Boston Red Sox
Additions: outfielder Tommy Pham, catcher Reese McGuire, first baseman Eric Hosmer, prospects Emmanuel Valdez, Wyler Abreu, Corey Rozier and Max Ferguson. Releases: TBD or cash considerations, reliever Jake Diekman, catcher Christian Vazquez, prospect Jay Groom.
This new version of the Red Sox is… different. Trading Vasquez wasn’t easy for Boston, but they didn’t stop there, adding Pham, Hosmer, McGuire and even some prospects in a flurry of trades. Whether all that activity translates into better results in 2022 is an open question, but the Red Sox have added some long-term intrigue in case this year ends without a playoff spot.
Blue Jays Significance: Hard to say, but it’s not looking bad for Toronto.
Legitimate buyers
Tampa Bay Rays
Additions: outfielders David Peralta and Jose Siri, reliever Garrett Clevinger. Out: outfielder Brett Phillips, prospects Christian Cerda, Jaden Murray, Seth Johnson and German Tapia
It wasn’t the most lavish deadline, but the Rays did spend prospects to upgrade their roster. With Peralta and Siri, they are a better team now than they were a week ago
Importance to Blue Jays: Slight negative.
Minnesota Twins
Additions: Jorge Lopez and Michael Fulmer, starter Tyler Male, catcher Sandy Leon. Subtractions: Reliever Ian Hamilton, prospects Cade Povich, Yenier Cano, Juan Nunes, Juan Rojas, Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Steven Hajar and Sawyer Gipson-Long
The Twins needed pitching and got it. They got a big win over their division rivals on Tuesday and now look like the best team in the Central.
Importance for Blue Jays: The Twins will now be tougher to beat if the Blue Jays face them in October.
Seattle Mariners
Additions: Starters Luis Castillo and Matthew Boyd, catcher Kurt Casali, utility player Jake Lamb Deductions: Prospects Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Levi Staudt, Andrew Moore, Michael Streifeller and Andy Thomas
That deadline was all about Castillo, one of the best pitchers available. Along with Robbie Ray and Logan Gilbert, Castillo gives Seattle a strong front three for the playoffs.
Meaning for the Blue Jays: This is not good. The Mariners now look like a bigger threat to knock the Blue Jays off the top of the wild card standings and force the Blue Jays to go on the road for the first round. This would be especially important if the Blue Jays play the Mariners because A) it’s a long flight and B) Ray didn’t show up in Canada but could play in Seattle.
Pushing bye
New York Yankees
Additions: Starter Frankie Montas, relievers Lou Trivino and Scott Efros, outfielders Andrew Benintendi and Harrison Bader, prospect Clayton Beater Removals: Pitchers Jordan Montgomery and JP Sears, outfielder Joey Gallo, prospects Ken Waldychuk, Luis Medina, Cooper Bowman, Hayden Wesneski , Beck Weiss , TJ Sikkema and Chandler Champlain
The Yankees were already an elite team. They could probably win the AL East without a single addition. But by loading up at the deadline, GM Brian Cashman increased his team’s chances of reaching the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Of course, there are questions about all of these players. Benintendi is still unvaccinated, Trivino’s fastball has been hit this year (.342 batting average, .684 slugging percentage), and Montas recently missed time with shoulder soreness.
Still, the Yankees significantly improved their roster, dealing away eight prospects in the process.
Importance for Blue Jays: The AL East continues to look out of reach, and the Yankees now look like an even stronger playoff contender. Not good.
Houston Astros
Additions: Catcher Christian Vazquez, reliever Will Smith, first baseman Trey Mancini, prospect Jayden Murray Subtraction: Prospects Emmanuel Valdez, Willier Abreu and Chase McDermott, starter Jake Odorizzi, outfielder Jose Siri
Like the Yankees, the Astros have a 12.0-game lead in their division that could have allowed them to get out. But like Cashman, Houston GM James Click added significantly in anticipation of a deep playoff run.
With the acquisition of Vazquez, Smith and Mancini, the Astros remain the Yankees’ biggest threat in the American League.
Meaning for the Blue Jays: This isn’t necessarily disastrous for the Blue Jays, but it’s never a good thing when the best teams in your league get stronger.
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