Blue Jays get a start on replacing Bautista
Trade for Grichuk gives Toronto potential starting right-fielder, writes Rob Longley.
TORONTO The good news, such as it is in this rather quiet off-season, is the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday acquired a player they hope will be their everyday right fielder.
The potentially better news is general manager Ross Atkins reported the team has “a good bit more” than US$10 million to spend on free agents in a market that still has product on the shelves.
First, the three-player trade that saw the team acquire Randal Grichuk from the St. Louis Cardinals in return for reliever Dominic Leone and starting pitching prospect Conner Greene:
With Atkins declaring the 26-year-old Texan is already pegged as the team’s everyday right fielder, he officially becomes the first replacement on the turf patrolled by former Jays great Jose Bautista.
“Athleticism. Youth. Control. Plays multiple positions. Power,” Atkins said when asked to list Grichuk’s assets. “Our objective and subjective information is very good on him defensively. There’s a lot to like.
“I think he’ll have the best chance of our group to take that position over for us in right field.”
Grichuk obviously has a long way to go to make Jays fans forget Bautista in his prime, but Atkins and his management group believe he can thrive in the AL East. In 122 games for the Cardinals in 2017, Grichuk hit 22 home runs — but that campaign also included a demotion to the minors to work on his hitting.
Grichuk was limited to 412 at-bats in 2017, a number Atkins would like to see increase by 100 or more. Grichuk, who hit .238 last season, will earn US$2.6 million in 2018 and is under club control until 2020.
“For age 26, there’s a lot of upside to that athleticism,” Atkins said. “Playing in smaller ballparks and being a fly ball guy, there could be an uptick in home runs as well.”
With Friday’s deal, at least the Jays can head to Dunedin in less than a month with a semblance of an opening-day outfield. Kevin Pillar is cemented in centre field, of course, with Steve Pearce, Ezequiel Carrera and recent free-agent Curtis Granderson duelling for playing time in left.
Grichuk didn’t come cheap, however, as the Jays had to part with reliever Leone, who was a stalwart in the bullpen last season with his 2.56 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 701/3 innings pitched. Greene struggled at Double-A New Hampshire, but was still viewed as one of the better starting pitching prospects with the team.
TIME TO SPEND?
Atkins made it clear there is still work to be done this off-season and with free agents still on the market, he revealed there is more than US$10 million to spend. So, what to shop for? Pitching remains a priority both starting and in the bullpen. The Jays aren’t convinced they want to go into the season with Joe Biagini as the fifth starter and the departure of Leone creates a hole in the relief corps.
Atkins said the team is always on the lookout for depth, especially given all the man-games lost last season, which ultimately doomed them, essentially from opening day.
“We have a little uncertainty with playing time around some of our players, so we have to build as much depth as possible,” the GM said. “Having alternatives and knowing we still have resources on the free-agent market is a good position to be in.”
PROSPECT TIME
After making an appearance in Buffalo this week, several Jays prospects were getting settled in the big-league clubhouse on Friday afternoon as their introductory tour continued.
The idea is to acclimatize high-end prospects to the Jays’ infrastructure so if and when they get the call to the bigs, it’s not a major culture shock.
“Imagine being called up for the first time and everything you have to deal with at that time,” Jays vice-president of baseball operations Ben Cherington said. “How to get to the ballpark? How are the coaches? How to get to the hotel?
“All those things that are potential distractions that can take you away from your job, which is to perform on the field. We’re just trying to get rid of as many of those distractions as possible.”
The would-be Jays will be joined under the dome today by several notable veterans for the team’s first Winter Fest. Among those scheduled to appear at the sold-out event include Josh Donaldson, Russell Martin, Marcus Stroman and manager John Gibbons.
QUOTABLE
Randal Grichuk, to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “We played in Toronto a few years back and I loved it. I loved playing indoors. The city seemed really nice and I enjoyed the few days I was there. I’m excited.” ... Jays shortstop prospect Bo Bichette on what it would be like to not be a teammate of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the club’s consensus top prospect. The pair were inseparable in Lansing and Dunedin last season, tearing it up in both spots. “It would be weird,” Bichette said. “Hopefully, we spend our whole careers together. We joke around and have fun, but we push each other as well.” ... Atkins, when asked if the Cardinals discussed a deal for Donaldson, a hot topic of the off-season: “Those are ( just) rumours that I think people are speculating on.”