The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, with a few teams finding a way to bolster their rosters. One team that improved was the Toronto Blue Jays, a team that was already considered to be in contention. Let’s talk about some of their trade deadline moves, and why they help them out in the long run.
Blue Jays Snag Bass And Pop For Groshans
The most notable was their first deal that went through. They were able to trade Jordan Groshans in order to get back Anthony Bass and Zach Pop. Everybody who has watched the Blue Jays this season knew that bolstering the bullpen was a top priority for them. They were able to acquire just that in this deal. This year, the team ranks 18th in the league with t heir bullpens’ 8.65 K/9. Bass in particular is going to be critical in improving that statistic as the season progresses. He currently holds onto a stellar 1.41 ERA with consistent strikeouts going right along with it due to a phenomenal slider. They did lose Groshans though, a player that hasn’t done too well in his first stint in the majors.
Frasso Shipped For White
The next trade that went through was when they gave away Nick Frasso and Moises Brito in order to acquire Alex De Jesus and Mitch White. Covering the players, they got first here with White and De Jesus. White has pitched 56 innings so far this season with an average 3.70 ERA. He’s a solid depth pitcher for this Blue Jays bullpen and can be very adequate as a starter in the rotation as the season progresses. Another reason this works for them is that White is locked into a contract until 2028.
Simply put, White is a player that everybody would like to have on their team due to their flexibility when it comes to role. However, Frasso could wind up being a big loss down the line. He was drafted back in 2020 and missed all of 2021 with an injury. He’s just started to pitch in Single-A and has been fantastic, with a 0.65 ERA across 41.2 innings and 65 strikeouts. The potential is definitely there, but it might just take a while for that come through, which is why Toronto ships him to get White.
Questionable Deal Brings In Merrifield
Then finally, they chose to flip Max Castillo and Samad Taylor for Whit Merrifield. One thing about Merrifield is that he’s going to be one of their best base stealers instantly. He’s also going to be a strong defender overall and some extra insurance in the depth chart. The downside is that he might not always be available to the team given his unvaccinated status. Luckily though, the Blue Jays gave away two players in Taylor and Castillo that were solid, but neither looked like future franchise superstars. All in all, this deal looks like a pretty mediocre one at the deadline compared to the other two.
Personally, I think this was a pretty successful trade deadline for Toronto. They were able to build upon that bullpen and try to shore up their biggest weakness. That’s something every team vows to do at this stage in the season.