https://www.milb.com/player/eddinson-paulino-682796
https://www.milb.com/player/cutter-coffey-702690
https://www.milb.com/player/gilberto-batista-807625
From Joe Doyle of Future Stars Series
The Jansen trade
The Blue Jays have a nice little prospect trio coming back in exchange for just two months of Jansen. Infielders Cutter Coffey and Eddinson Paulino, as well as minor league RHP Gilberto Batista, are heading Toronto in the deal.
Coffey, 20, is enjoying a bit of a breakthrough 2024 season after underwhelming in his first couple seasons in professional ball. Coffey, a second round pick by Boston in 2022, is slashing.238/.321/.463 for High-A Greenville this year. His 14 homers are more than double his original career-high of six from 2023. There’s considerable swing-and-miss in Coffey’s game but he’s growing into significant power and could profile as a power-first third baseman when all is said and done.
Paulino, 22, is a left-handed hitter with a bunch of fringy to average tools. He ranked no. 14 in the Red Sox system in our preseason top 30 and was set to rank no. 17 in our midseason update. He’s a performer and a gamer who gets the most out of the physical traits he has. Paulino is currently running a .263/.349/.391 slash with just three homers at Double-A Portland. His batted-ball data has backed up despite an impressive ground ball rate under 30 percent. Paulino’s versatility and polished left-handed approach should get him to the big leagues, though he’s unlikely to feature much impact in the box.
Batista, 19, is still developing in the Florida Complex League, though he’s shown punch out stuff and projects a fly-ball pitcher. It’s a four-pitch mix with a fastball touching 96, two breaking balls and the early clay of a changeup. It’s a starter operation, though Batista has battled below average control and command this season as evidenced by his 13 walks in just 20 innings pitched. He’s several years away, but it is pretty exceptional arm talent.
The Pearson trade
Toronto is acquiring left field prospect Yohendrick Pinango, 22, in the deal.
Pinango ranked as the no. 32 overall prospect in the Cubs system in our preseason ranks. He was set to jump into the top 20 in our midseason update. Pinango’s batted-ball data has ticked up in recent seasons and now projects at least above average raw power. His overall hit tool profile has also ticked up in 2024 at High-A South Bend, though it’s been tested and streaky flashing some 2023 trends since being promoted to Double-A Tennessee. He’s currently slashing .223/.316/.345 at Double-A with five homers. His 12.3 percent strikeout rate and 16.4 percent walk rate have scouts bullish the offensive tools will once again be represented in the slash line.
As a whole, Pinango has shown improved pitch selection and in-zone metrics this season. His limited athleticism will keep him in left field at the next level.
Importantly, Pinango will need to be added to the 40-man this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Toronto is also acquiring shortstop Josh Rivera in the deal. Rivera, a third round pick in the 2023 draft, ranked as the no. 24 prospect in the Cubs system this preseason. He was not going to make the top-30 cut in our midseason update. Rivera has struggled to adjust to bigger stuff from opposing pitchers and was slashing .169/.277/.260 at Double-A Tennessee. His longer bat path has led to more whiffs than what he showed at the University of Florida ultimately negating what is solid-average raw power. The defensive actions remain strong and Rivera has done a nice job not allowing his woes at the plate to leak into his reliability on the dirt.
Considering the control years, athleticism, up-the-middle profile and lack of pressure to be placed on the 40-man roster, the case can be made Rivera is still a considerably better prospect than Pinango from a value/gamble perspective.
The Garcia trade
Clase, 22, ranked as our no. 11 prospect in the Mariners organization in preseason rankings and was set to rank no. 15 in the post-deadline midseason rankings. He made his major league debut this spring and is currently running a .195/.233/.220 slash in 43 plate appearances with the big league club. He’s been far more productive at Triple-A Tacoma where he boasts a .274/.373/.483 line with ten homers and 34 stolen bases.
The book on Clase is speed and sneaky thump. He’s still on the younger side but is physically maxed and does not figure to grow into much more physical tools. He’s a muscled-up corner outfielder with solid bat speed when he’s able to get to it in games. He projects a fourth outfielder in the big leagues with 60- to 70-grade speed that will undoubtedly play on the bases. He’s been a steal merchant throughout his minor league career as evidenced by the 79 bags he took in 2023. Clase has a ways to go in terms of defensive instincts and eye-test comfort in the outfield. His speed does make up for some noticeable warts in the routes department. The hit tool will ultimately dictate how high Clase’s role can climb. At times he looks overmatched, but with more seasoning and exposure to big league pitching Clase may grow more comfortable with what he’s seeing on a nightly basis. The hope would be that unlocks an average hit tool and the ability to get his ‘A-Swing’ off more consistently whilst projecting toward the back-third of a lineup.
The Blue Jays appear sunk in the playoff race in 2024 and changes needed to be made. They will be without Kevin Kiermaier (retirement) in 2025 and George Springer has lost a step too. Clase gives the Blue Jays options in the field and late in games and could ultimately blossom into a solid Role 5 position player if given the time and reps necessary to succeed.
The Mariners will also send catcher Jacob Sharp, 22, to the Blue Jays in the deal. Sharp was a 17th round selection in the 2023 Draft and is currently running a .255/.339/.435 slash at Class-A Modesto. Sharp has solid bat-to-ball skills and the ability to stick behind the plate going forward.
Trading Garcia all but signals to the league the Blue Jays’ intention to sell expiring contracts this deadline.
