2021-22 Offseason Thread

[vaff87]

Kirk now the main DH instead of the 4th outfielder (Grichuk/Teo)?

Less likely to trade Gurriel for JRam now?

Kirk should always have been the primary DH on this team. Of course, knowing Montoyo, I'm sure you can expect Tapia to play all the time and come in to bunt in the late innings when he isn't starting.

That's absolutely the danger here. Per MLBTR's numbers, it's effectively $2m in savings this year and $5m next season, which is probably worth doing even with nothing coming back, given that Grichuk has produced all of 1.4 fWAR over his past three seasons (a ~1400 PA sample).

But Tapia shouldn't be anything more than a bench player. He isn't a good hitter against righties (certainly not better than any of our righties), and he isn't a defensive wiz, either. Hell, if you could spin him off for nothing, you probably should; I'm really not sure why the Rockie even tendered him at $4m.

What are the chances the Jays think Pinto is a hidden gem?

I also wonder if they see mechanical adjustments they can make with Tapia.

[polo007]

Not a big fan of Grichuk, but on the surface this is a bit of a head scratching trade.

Not really. They are now going to pay their 4th outfielder 4 million instead of 10 million (though we are sending some money back). Makes sense. Get a prospect as well. Pretty solid return on a salary dump.

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[Schad]

What are the chances the Jays think Pinto is a hidden gem?

I also wonder if they see mechanical adjustments they can make with Tapia.

Anything is possible, but I suspect that Tapia is mostly just a makeweight. We could use a backup OF with Grichuk gone, and a left-handed bat (I guess?); the Rockies had little desire to pay Tapia if they had Grichuk.

Tapia's launch angle has decreased steadily to the point where it's actually negative (per Baseball Savant, he topped more balls in 2021 than any player in baseball), so they might see an avenue for adjustment there, but it's worth noting that he was actually at least as bad of a hitter when he had more launch angle, because he still didn't have any power, and struck out more. Chopping the ball into the dirt and hoping to beat it out might actually be the best version of him.

But there isn't much difference between Tapia-bad and Grichuk-bad, and it frees up a bit of money, which could be useful at the deadline, and quite useful next year. So I'm fine with it, so long as Tapia doesn't see much of the field.

[polo007]

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[polo007]

Blue Jays rework bench trading Grichuk to Rockies for Tapia, Pinto - Sportsnet.ca

TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays reworked their bench Thursday by sending right-handed-hitting Randal Grichuk and cash to the Colorado Rockies for fellow outfielder Raimel Tapia, a left-handed batter, and minor-leaguer Adrian Pinto.

Tapia is a high-contact (95th percentile whiff rate) and speedy (81st percentile sprint speed) 28-year-old who has played 266 of his 329 major-league games in left field. He joins Cavan Biggio and Reese McGuire as the only lefty bats currently expected to be on the opening day roster, although non-roster invite Greg Bird is being given an extended look this spring.

None is the type of everyday, impact lefty hitter the Blue Jays could use to balance an almost exclusively right-handed lineup, but Tapia gives manager Charlie Montoyo options for speed and defence off the bench and a platoon opportunity for the starting lineup.

The Blue Jays have checked in on free agent Michael Conforto, the sole remaining impact left-handed bat left in free agency, according to another industry source, although that’s not necessarily indicative of anything other than due diligence. Newsday’s Erik Boland reported earlier this week that they’ve also shown interest in longtime Yankees nemesis Brett Gardner.

Trading Grichuk and the $10.33 million he’s due this season and next frees up some cash with Tapia set to earn $3.95 million this year. He has one more year of arbitration left before hitting free agency after 2023.

Rob Gillies of the Associated Press reports that the Blue Jays are sending just over $9.7 million to the Rockies — $5,383,333 this year and $4,333,333 in 2023 — covering a little more than half the $18,666,666 owed to Grichuk.

Trading Grichuk is not without risk, as his power profile should play up at Coors Field. With 394 career games in centre field, he also offered strong protection behind George Springer while Tapia, with only 189.2 innings over 37 games at the position, is much less experienced there.

Still, Grichuk was somewhat of a redundancy in an outfield that also includes Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the corners and he struggled last season when moved into a part-time role, which barring injury was likely how he’d be used this season, too.

[polo007]

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[WuTang_OG]

I like the deal because we needed a lefty and add speed, so we got a 2 in one need for a guy whos going to be utility type and who charlie can go to in many situations

i liked grichuk but he was redundant and our talent got a whole lot better since we signed him

Tepia brings a different element that we lacked. I loved Rajai Davis on this team , hoping he can bring something similar. fun player

[polo007]

Grichuk sad to leave, wants Blue Jays fans to remember him for playing the game hard - Sportsnet.ca

3:06 | March 24, 2022

Hazel Mae caught up with Randal Grichuk after being traded to the Colorado Rockies, to discuss his bittersweet feeling of leaving such a great clubhouse and great group of guys, but also excited for a fresh start in a hitter's friendly ballpark.

Atkins says acquiring Tapia is 'a better complimentary piece' for Blue Jays - Sportsnet.ca

0:52 | March 24, 2022

Watch as Ross Atkins addresses the media about acquiring Raimel Tapia from the Rockies, and why he is 'a better complimentary piece' for the Blue Jays with his tools and being a left-handed batter.

[vaff87]

I like the deal because we needed a lefty and add speed, so we got a 2 in one need for a guy whos going to be utility type and who charlie can go to in many situations

i liked grichuk but he was redundant and our talent got a whole lot better since we signed him

Tepia brings a different element that we lacked. I loved Rajai Davis on this team , hoping he can bring something similar. fun player

That’s our fear…

[WuTang_OG]

I like the deal because we needed a lefty and add speed, so we got a 2 in one need for a guy whos going to be utility type and who charlie can go to in many situations

i liked grichuk but he was redundant and our talent got a whole lot better since we signed him

Tepia brings a different element that we lacked. I loved Rajai Davis on this team , hoping he can bring something similar. fun player

That’s our fear…

Willimg to give him half a year to see

[bluerap23]

Kirk now the main DH instead of the 4th outfielder (Grichuk/Teo)?

Less likely to trade Gurriel for JRam now?

Kirk should always have been the primary DH on this team. Of course, knowing Montoyo, I'm sure you can expect Tapia to play all the time and come in to bunt in the late innings when he isn't starting.

That's absolutely the danger here. Per MLBTR's numbers, it's effectively $2m in savings this year and $5m next season, which is probably worth doing even with nothing coming back, given that Grichuk has produced all of 1.4 fWAR over his past three seasons (a ~1400 PA sample).

But Tapia shouldn't be anything more than a bench player. He isn't a good hitter against righties (certainly not better than any of our righties), and he isn't a defensive wiz, either. Hell, if you could spin him off for nothing, you probably should; I'm really not sure why the Rockie even tendered him at $4m.

Yeah, the cash payment here is much more than I would have expected. We're now basically playing a worse roster player the same amount of money. I suppose we can non-tender him next year and come out $4 million ahead, which I guess is the point. Hopefully Pinto works out.

[SharoneWright]

The extra cash is for the prospect. Our scouting must’ve liked him a lot.

[Schad]

Yeah, the cash payment here is much more than I would have expected. We're now basically playing a worse roster player the same amount of money. I suppose we can non-tender him next year and come out $4 million ahead, which I guess is the point. Hopefully Pinto works out.

Assuming we non-tender Tapia next year, and I'd imagine that we will, we will be a net $7m better off all told. Which isn't nothing, particularly when both Tapia and Grichuk have been quite bad over the past three years, and we gained an interesting prospect in the process. I'm fine with the deal, just with the caveat that Tapia shouldn't play much (just as I was fine with Grichuk as the backup OF, so long as he didn't play much).

[Cyrus]

Better hope George Springer has a fully healthy year, or this won't look so hot this year. If Tapia has to play as many Games as Randal played last year for us, basically almost full time, then we definitely in trouble.

Don't get me wrong I like the profile of Tapia, high contact / low strike out, put the ball in play, sort of like Ben Reeves type player, but he's not nearly as good offensively as him, and if he couldn't get the ball up in COORS field, I'm not sure he's gonna do any better in Toronto either.

This is definitely a play to save some cash for next year, because they likely need will need the room to extend either Vladdy/Bo, and don't forget Teo is quietly having pretty good seasons, and he's up soon. Having 12 mill tied up to Randal wasn't going to help, especially if they are going to approach the near TAX level.

Hopefully the prospect pans out, but I think it's just a lottery ticket, maybe they'll use it to send someone else in deadline deal or something.

I also feel he's gonna be the kind of guy that will basically play every game with Charlie managing, basically put him in to pinch bat for Jansen or run for someone, or play defensively late games for either Teo/Lourdes. Worry about him being over used.

[I_Like_Dirt]

Grichuk was really bad last season. From June on he was absolutely awful. Unless he turns things around this really isn't a significant loss even if the Jays wind up playing replacement level guys most of the season.

[polo007]

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[Randle McMurphy]

I like the deal because we needed a lefty and add speed, so we got a 2 in one need for a guy whos going to be utility type and who charlie can go to in many situations

That's the fear, yes. I'd like the move more if Gibbons was the manager still.

[WuTang_OG]

I like the deal because we needed a lefty and add speed, so we got a 2 in one need for a guy whos going to be utility type and who charlie can go to in many situations

That's the fear, yes. I'd like the move more if Gibbons was the manager still.

Jays need to get off to a hot start or the pressure will be on him. rightfully so.

[polo007]

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[Parataxis]

Dexter Fowler is not a name I expected to see, but looks like he's coming to us on an MiLB deal. I wonder if he still has anything left in the tank.

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