Jays trade Osuna to Astros in closer swap
OAKLAND On the one hand, the Toronto Blue Jays feel dealing Roberto Osuna was a trade “that made baseball sense.”
On the other, sending the talented but troubled closer to the World Series champion Houston Astros on Monday had an element of making him somebody else’s problem.
Osuna’s 75-game suspension stemming from assault charges he is facing in Toronto is due to end this weekend.
Returning to the Jays is former Astros closer Ken Giles, who was demoted to triple-a this season, as well as pitching prospects Hector Perez and David Paulinho.
Jays general manager Ross Atkins acknowledged that bringing back Osuna to Toronto carried the risk of negative fan reaction.
“We do feel a responsibility to the fans and we do feel empathy for the fans and we ultimately work for the fans, that’s how we view our jobs,” said Atkins.
“We are human. It is very difficult for accusations not to influence us in some way.
“Having said that, this made sense for the organization from a baseball perspective.”
Osuna, a 23-year-old native of Sinaloa, Mexico, is scheduled to appear in Toronto court Wednesday for the latest in the proceedings from May 9 assault charges.
Major League baseball reacted swiftly to those charges, levying the hefty suspension under the league’s domestic violence policy.
“My client is a superstar pitcher and he will succeed wherever he plays,” his criminal defence lawyer, Domenic Basile, told the Toronto Sun’s Sam Pazzano.
“He is presumed innocent and I intend to resolve this case to his benefit as soon as possible.”