Blue Jays deal Diaz to Astros for pitcher
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays traded utility infielder Aledmys Diaz to the Houston Astros on Saturday for starting pitcher Trent Thornton.
The trade helps address the Blue Jays’ depth issues on the pitching staff and their surplus of infielders.
Toronto’s pitching staff had the fourth-worst earned-run average in Major League Baseball last season at 4.85. A large part of the rotation’s struggles were the ongoing injury issues with Nos. 1 and 2 starters Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez. Stroman had a 4-9 record with a 5.54 ERA over 102.1 innings pitched before getting shut down for the season with blister issues. Sanchez had a 4-6 record with a 4.89 ERA over 105 innings.
He had surgery on his right index finger Sept. 25 after missing most of the season with blister and fingernail issues.
Thornton could compete for a spot in the starting rotation or join the bullpen. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 9-8 record with a 4.42 ERA in 24 games for the triple-A Fresno Grizzlies in 2018.
Thornton, from Pittsburgh, owns a career record of 32-19 and a 4.23 ERA over four minor-league seasons with
395 strikeouts and 78 starts in 88 appearances.
At the same time, the return of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who missed the 2018 season after surgery to remove bone spurs in his right ankle, has created a log jam in the infield.