After just signing one potential rotation option, the Toronto Blue Jays traded for another one on Sunday
Even though the 2019 season is most likely going to be a lost season for the Toronto Blue Jays, the rotation was significantly thin. Last week, the team signed Matt Shoemaker, who could turn out to be a very good signing. Sunday, they finalized a deal to acquire Clayton Richard from the San Diego Padres.
The Padres DFA’d Richard on December 20th after signing Ian Kinsler, and most figured that he would draw significant trade interest during the time between when he was DFA’d and would become a free agent, and Sunday, the Blue Jays were the team that came out on top in those trade talks.
The cost was not high for the Jays, costing a minor league outfielder that was not in consideration at all for their top 10 for me in Connor Panas (25 years old, just reached AA for the first time in 2018). The Jays will also cover half of Richard’s 2019 salary, which is $3 million.
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Richard gives the Jays a second left-handed arm for their rotation, along with returning member Ryan Borucki. With just a single left-handed reliever currently projected in the bullpen as well, adding another southpaw is a positive thing.
This does put Sean Reid-Foley and Thomas Pannone both back into the AAA rotation most likely, though that could be a definite positive for the Blue Jays to have that kind of depth. It also gives both the opportunity for a bit more seasoning before midseason.
At midseason, Richard could end up being a very valuable trade piece for the Jays if he can bounce back from a rough 2018, when he started with a great first start, then had a tough first month, then went on a 10-start tear from May 8th to June 27th where he had a 3.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 13/52 BB/K ratio.
Richard struggled to finish his season, which finished after a loss to the Dodgers at the end of August, when he ended up having surgery on his left knee. He will be ready for Opening Day, and if he could be a league-average starter for the Toronto Blue Jays, he would have definite value.