Blue Jays acquire OF Bradley Zimmer from Guardians in exchange for RHP Anthony Castro

[polo007]

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[polo007]

Cleveland Guardians trade outfielder Bradley Zimmer to Toronto Blue Jays for reliever Anthony Castro - ESPN.com

Bradley Zimmer has been a tantalizing talent since coming up with the Guardians in 2017. However, the rangy, 6-foot-5 Zimmer hasn't been able to stay healthy since showing so much promise early in his career.

The 29-year-old missed most of three seasons with an assortment of injuries and surgeries before coming back in 2021 and playing in 99 games -- his most since '17. Zimmer batted .237 with eight homers and 35 RBI last season.

He was one several players who competed for one of the Guardians' open corner outfield positions, but he was beaten out by rookie Steven Kwan. Cleveland decided to move Zimmer for pitching depth.

Zimmer had spent his entire career with Cleveland, which selected him with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2014 draft.

The 26-year-old Castro has been with Toronto and Detroit. He split last season between Triple-A Buffalo and Toronto, going 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA and one save in 25 games.

The Venezuelan, who has one minor league option remaining, began his career in the Tigers' system in 2012. He opened the season on Buffalo's Triple-A roster and will be added to Cleveland's active roster Saturday in Kansas City.

[Schad]

Zimmer's a better option as our fourth outfielder than Tapia, on the rare instances where he's healthy. He's a strikeout machine, but he's a competent-to-good CF with speed and a decent walk rate, who hits the ball relatively hard and at least theoretically shouldn't be putting up backup-middle-infielder isolated power numbers.

[polo007]

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[SharoneWright]

Never considered Castro to be a tradable asset. So to get Zimmer is obviously a win. At minimum a better trade piece, and maybe he finds his footing here. Either way, the team added value imo.

[Cyrus]

Man Shapiro and Atkins, sure like trying to collect these lotto tickets outfielders that they hope can turn into something, like Derek Fisher, or Billy McKinney, Brandon Drury, etc.

So we are forced to carry Zimmer on the roster as he's out of options or risk losing him I suppose.

[I_Like_Dirt]

Man Shapiro and Atkins, sure like trying to collect these lotto tickets outfielders that they hope can turn into something, like Derek Fisher, or Billy McKinney, Brandon Drury, etc.

So we are forced to carry Zimmer on the roster as he's out of options or risk losing him I suppose.

One of those lottery was Teoscar. I'm perfectly okay with these lottery ticket outfielders.

[Cyrus]

Don't forget we also went after Socrates Brito lol

[DelAbbot]

Man Shapiro and Atkins, sure like trying to collect these lotto tickets outfielders that they hope can turn into something, like Derek Fisher, or Billy McKinney, Brandon Drury, etc.

So we are forced to carry Zimmer on the roster as he's out of options or risk losing him I suppose.

we hit on teoscar, and him alone is worth all those poor ABs we gave away in those guys

[polo007]

Blue Jays add Zimmer to outfield mix - MLB.com

TORONTO — The Blue Jays made a trade late Thursday, acquiring outfielder Bradley Zimmer from the Guardians for reliever Anthony Castro.

Zimmer adds to Toronto’s outfield depth ahead of the club's Opening Day game on Friday, bringing another left-handed bat into the organization as the Blue Jays work to balance out a righty-heavy lineup. Castro, on the other hand, was left on the outside looking in at the Blue Jays’ bullpen picture as they broke camp.

The 29-year-old Zimmer, a 2014 first-round Draft pick (21st overall) by Cleveland, is a familiar name to the Blue Jays’ front office. He came up as one of the top outfield prospects in the game, too, peaking as the No. 22 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline prior to the 2017 season.

“He brings speed,” manager Charlie Montoyo said prior to Friday’s season opener. “He brings defense in the field, which is something that’s going to help us a lot, and he can pinch-run.”

“I was talking to one of the coaches I know from Cleveland,” Montoyo said, “and he said this guy has the talent to be a really good ballplayer, so maybe the change of scenery will help him out, too.”

[bluerap23]

Man Shapiro and Atkins, sure like trying to collect these lotto tickets outfielders that they hope can turn into something, like Derek Fisher, or Billy McKinney, Brandon Drury, etc.

So we are forced to carry Zimmer on the roster as he's out of options or risk losing him I suppose.

If we want to we can send down Tapia. He will clear waivers. If he doesn't management will celebrate.

[polo007]

Zimmer Excited to Join Blue Jays 'Contagious' Offense, Winning Culture - Sports Illustrated

After parts of five seasons in Cleveland, Bradley Zimmer said it was a “shock” to find out he’d been traded to the Blue Jays.

“It was definitely bittersweet,” the outfielder said outside his new locker in the Rogers Centre clubhouse.

On Thursday, before the Guardians’ season opener, Zimmer was called into a meeting with manager Terry Francona, who passed along the news. Just like that, Zimmer—Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2014—was gone from the only organization he’d ever known, swapped in a deal for right-hander Anthony Castro.

“A lot of good memories and relationships there, but it's part of the game,” he said. “Most guys don't stay in one place for that long.”

Now the 29-year-old begins a new chapter of his career by joining a Blue Jays squad he’s watched for a while.

“I've played against these guys a few times now,” Zimmer said. “Seeing what they do on the home side, just how much fun they have, I feel like that creates a winning atmosphere. So looking from the outside in, it was cool to see."

“Obviously coming to somewhere like Toronto is very special, and I'm really excited to be here, based on everyone I've met so far and just how good the chemistry and how good the team is.”

And, for the Blue Jays, the feeling is mutual. Zimmer, a left-handed hitter, brings an elite level of speed (97th percentile sprint speed last year) and power that few players in the game possess.

At 6-foot-4, when Zimmer connects, baseballs fly out of the yard. That was on full display in 2021, where he crushed some tape-measure shots with the Guardians and finished in the 75th percentile in average exit velocity and in the 91st percentile for max exit velo.