Blue Jays banking on Varsho’s defensive prowess in trade for Moreno, Gurriel Jr.

TORONTO – Years of catching rumours culminated in a three-player commerce Friday afternoon, with the Blue Jays sending high prospect Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to the Arizona Diamondbacks for outfielder Daulton Varsho.

Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk can now breathe straightforward. They’re in place as Toronto’s catching tandem for no less than the following two years.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays commerce a possible long-term contributor in Moreno in addition to Gurriel Jr., who was one 12 months away from free company. It’s a big haul, one the Blue Jays don’t give up frivolously, however that was the worth required to acquire Varsho, the perfect participant within the deal.

A defensively gifted participant, Varsho will get distinctive reads on fly balls and chases them down with spotlight reel diving catches. In 2022, he led all MLB outfielders with 18 outs above common and at age 26 he’s nonetheless very a lot in his prime.

Alongside fellow newcomer Kevin Kiermaier, Varsho will strengthen the Blue Jays’ outfield defence considerably in 2023. Presuming Kiermaier makes most of his begins in centre, the Blue Jays can then deploy Varsho and George Springer within the corners to help fly ball heavy pitchers like Alek Manoah and Jose Berrios. While they pitch fewer innings, relievers Trevor Richards and Yimi Garcia determine to profit, too.

In principle, the Blue Jays are buying and selling away a catcher and an outfielder for a participant who can do each. And likelihood is, Varsho will catch sometimes in 2023, however the Blue Jays seem to view him primarily as an outfielder. His capacity to catch is a bonus, however it will be a shock if he even matched the 18 begins behind the plate he made final 12 months in Arizona.

That places further strain on Jansen and Kirk, and should enhance the chance the Blue Jays add a veteran catcher with big-league expertise. Stashing such a participant at triple-A would have its benefits, if attainable.

Both outgoing gamers have been worldwide signing success tales for the Blue Jays. Signed out of Cuba in November of 2016, Gurriel Jr. batted .285/.329/.468 in 5 seasons with Toronto – good for an OPS+ of 117. Like Gurriel Jr., Moreno was additionally signed as an infielder earlier than changing to catcher. A lifetime .310 hitter within the minor leagues, he now ranks among the many sport’s high prospects at age 22.

Then there’s the offensive aspect of the deal. Varsho hit 27 house runs final 12 months on his technique to a .235/.302/.443 batting line in a career-high 592 plate appearances. A left-handed hitter, Varsho strikes out greater than common (24.5 per cent strikeout fee) whereas additionally discovering extra barrels than common (10.2 per cent barrel fee).

All issues thought of, he’s a comparable offensive participant to Gurriel Jr., with a projected wRC+ of 108 for 2023 in comparison with Gurriel Jr.’s 116. But Varsho’s simply the superior defensive participant and he’s 4 years away from free company, giving the Blue Jays a long-term outfield possibility they beforehand lacked.

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Still, this transfer may pretty be described as impartial offensively. For the Blue Jays to realize their acknowledged purpose of offensive enhancements, additional additions would assist. On that entrance they’ll be open-minded with one supply suggesting the entrance workplace will probably be looking out for additional offensive assist in the weeks forward.

The deal additionally saves the Blue Jays about $3 million for 2023 as Gurriel Jr. will earn $5.8 million, in comparison with a projected $2.8 million for Varsho in his first time by arbitration (through MLB Trade Rumors). With that, the Blue Jays’ projected 2023 payroll hovers proper round MLB’s first projected aggressive steadiness threshold – $233 million.

But since each president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins have indicated the Blue Jays are snug going previous the CBT, there’s room for extra additions. The entrance workplace has been staying open-minded on additional pitching, however the obvious spot so as to add nonetheless appears to be on the place participant entrance following the departures of Gurriel Jr. and Moreno.

The free agent market has thinned significantly by this level, however an outfielder who can hit powerful lefties would make sense on paper. First base depth behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may be a consideration now that Gurriel Jr.’s gone, although Cavan Biggio can deal with first if wanted.

In different phrases, additional strikes are seemingly within the weeks main as much as spring coaching. But this may clearly be probably the most impactful commerce of the low season for the Blue Jays, who’ve made their most extravagant free agent splashes, too. With the largest strikes of the winter now full, it’s time to fill in across the edges.

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