Toronto Blue Jays: What to do with Devon Travis
The Toronto Blue Jays had hoped that Devon Travis would be a key part of their future. Instead, he may need a change of scenery to reach his potential.
The Toronto Blue Jays thought they had their second baseman of the future with Devon Travis. Having been acquired from the Detroit Tigers for Anthony Gose, Travis had been a top prospect, ranking 84th in baseball prior to the 2014 campaign according to Baseball America. It was hoped that he would be a building block for the Blue Jays for the rest of the decade.
Travis certainly did not disappoint in his first two seasons in Toronto. In his first 163 games over those two years, he produced a solid .301/.342/.469 batting line, hitting 46 doubles and 19 homers while stealing seven bases. Then, last season, the bottom fell out, as Travis hit at a .259/.291/.438 clip, with five homers and four steals.
On Saturday, the Blue Jays continued their makeover of their middle infield, acquiring Yangervis Solarte from the Padres for a pair of minor leaguers. In theory, Solarte is an excellent depth piece for Toronto, giving them protection in case Josh Donaldson is traded, or if Travis is injured yet again. If nothing else, he is a tremendous upgrade offensively over Darwin Barney.
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Those injuries to Travis are the problem. He has missed time in each of the past three seasons, needing shoulder surgery and having damaged cartilage in his knee. Should he be able to get on to the field, he may well be able to become that star player that the Blue Jays have been hoping for.
However, with the trade for Solarte, one has to wonder if Toronto has soured on Travis. Having all the talent in the world does not matter if the player is sitting on the disabled list, a location where Travis has found himself all too often. The time has come for the Blue Jays to determine whether or not they can count on the former top prospect, or if it is time to move on.
Of course, that leads to the problem of trying to find a fit for Travis. While the vast majority of teams appear to be set at second, teams like the Brewers and Mets could use a long term solution. Both teams have designs on contending in the coming season, and if Travis can stay healthy, he would be a nice piece to the lineup. But that question comes up once again – can he stay in the lineup?
Likewise, when it comes to trading Travis, his value is not nearly as high as it would have been at this time last year. The Blue Jays would be selling low, hoping that whatever prospects they get back in return would be able to be a part of the future. In all likelihood, this comes down to a simple question – does Toronto truly think that they will contend in 2018?
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If so, then it may be time to trade Devon Travis. At this point, the Toronto Blue Jays cannot count on him to remain in the lineup.