Atkins insists groundwork being laid for future deals
Blue Jays GM quiet during winter meetings with only Rule 5 picks to show for his visit
The Toronto Blue Jays caught the San Francisco Giants sleeping two years ago and returned to the well again Thursday.
In the 2015 MLB Rule 5 draft, the Jays plucked pitcher Joe Biagini from the Giants and the big right-hander turned into an outstanding reliever, though he struggled in a starting role last season.
In Thursday’s Rule 5 draft, the Jays selected another pitcher from the Giants organization, right-hander Drew Muren. Muren was picked in the triple A phase of the draft, meaning they don’t have to keep the six-foot-six fireballer on their major-league roster for the entire season.
At 29, Muren is not exactly a prospect, but has put up interesting numbers.
Last season in the minors, he struck out 45 batters in 381/3 innings. But also walked 25.
The season before, dividing his time between single-A and triple-A, Muren made 38 relief appearances and struck out 61 batters in 41 innings while issuing 20 walks. He’ll likely spend most of his time in triple-A Buffalo next season.
Toronto general manager
Ross Atkins was pleased no teams took anyone from the
Jays organization in the majorleague phase of the draft — specifically catcher Max Pentecost and pitcher Jordan Romano.
They did lose third baseman Mitch Nay to the Reds in the minor-league phase. But other than selecting Muren, catcher Alberto Mineo from the Cubs and shortstop Ivan Castillo from the Indians, the Jays did not make a single deal at this year’s MLB winter meetings, though Atkins insisted that’s not necessarily disappointing.
The GM said a lot of constructive conversations were held with GMs, agents and players during the week that could turn into trades or free-agent signings over the next few weeks.
“There are things that became a little bit more concrete for us and I would imagine that is the case across the industry,” said Atkins, following the draft.
“Whether or not people end up signing contracts and moving towards physicals, it feels like that’s going to happen a little more and more this week and before we break for the holidays for a bit.”
He said some definite momentum has been put in place for possible moves in the not-sodistant future.
“Slowly, alternatives and options are coming off the board and that will continue to occur, (so) absolutely there’s more than one opportunity for the Blue Jays,” he said.
“This is not a deadline. This is an opportunity to learn and sometimes deals happen here and sometimes they don’t.”
HERE AND THERE
Though the Jays didn’t pull the trigger on any deals at the winter meetings, there were rumours galore. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweeted the Jays checked in on Carlos Gonzalez and fellow free-agent outfielder Carlos Gomez. Heyman also reported five teams have shown interest in third baseman Josh Donaldson, though the Jays have no interest in trading him at the time, though that could change as he is entering the final year of his contract and is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the 2018 season ... USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports the Giants and the Jays have talked to the White Sox about acquiring outfielder Avisail Garcia ... The Jays have reportedly shown interest in Cincinnati outfielders Billy Hamilton and Adam Duvall ... There have also been reports Toronto is looking at versatile infielder Eduardo Nunez, though that seems unlikely given the Jays acquired infielder Aledmys Diaz from St. Louis.