Blue Jays get a start on replacing Bautista

Trade for Grichuk gives Toronto potential starting right-fielder, writes Rob Longley.

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.