Fisher’s trade to Jays ‘bittersweet’

BALTIMORE — Derek Fisher had one word to sum up his feelings upon learning he had been traded to the Blue Jays from the Houston Astros before the deadline hit on Wednesday.

“Bittersweet,” Fisher said on Thursday before the Jays and Baltimore Orioles opened a four-game series.

Little wonder. The Astros have legitimate designs on the World Series. If the Jays book now, they probably can get good deals on flights and hotels for getaway trips in October once the regular season ends.

“I’m leaving an organization that took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to live a childhood dream,” Fisher said. “A chance to have that and play with some of the best players in the game was something I’m never going to forget.”

Fisher wasn’t suggesting he was disappointed to be going to the Jays. He should get a greater opportunity to contribute in the outfield in Toronto than he did in Houston, though he was not in the starting lineup on Thursday.

And the 25-year-old sees some similarities between the Jays and Astros, with whom he won the World Series in 2017.

“To have an opportunity here with this team and the guys, and how much fun they have in here, and how closely knit this group is, (it’s) very similar to Houston,” Fisher said. “A lot of us played in the minor leagues together and that was a big part of why that team was so fun and why the minor leagues was as fun as it was, because we won a lot of games.

“I walk into this clubhouse and you have a lot of young faces and a lot of guys who have played with each other coming up through the minor leagues and I feel like that’s something great to have.

“I can’t take my time in Houston lightly with how much I learned and the guys I was able to play with, but there is a time when you want to be able to use your skills and to be able to help a team every single day. It’s why we play this game. Not only is it fun, but we get to help a team win and here in Toronto, a country win.”

They’re not all unfamiliar faces for Fisher either, as he played with Teoscar Hernandez and Trent Thornton in the Astros system.

Jays manager Charlie Montoyo isn’t sure how he will use Fisher, who counts speed among his assets.

“I’m going to play him, give him a chance to see what he can do,” Montoyo said. “I’m going to learn from the guy, he is going to get a chance to play.”

Said Fisher: “A big part with my minor-league development was trying to get comfortable with all three (outfield positions).”

In Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Montoyo has his left fielder, so it could wind up that Fisher will get a longer look in centre or in right. Not that Montoyo is displeased with Hernandez or Randal Grichuk. Billy McKinney remains in the mix.

“Just almost like I’m doing the infield,” Montoyo said of finding a balance in the outfield. “Finding a way every day, trying to put the best matchups in there.”

Gurriel departed the Jays’ game on Wednesday in Kansas City with discomfort in his right knee, and was not in the starting lineup on Thursday.

“He is okay if we need him, but he is not playing,” Montoyo said.