TORONTO — Shortly after the Toronto Blue Jays began batting practice Friday afternoon, Yimi Garcia’s phone rang. General manager Ross Atkins was on the other end with word of a trade — the coveted right-handed leverage reliever was headed to the Seattle Mariners.
Garcia wasn’t surprised, he knew a deal was coming and had fully prepared for it, so he proceeded with his day, which meant heading to the barbershop for one last haircut at Rogers Centre, talking on the phone throughout the trim.
Though flight arrangements were being made to get him to Chicago to join the Mariners as soon as possible, and he expected to be in uniform for his new team Saturday, there was no need to rush.
“Everything is packed already,” he said with a grin.
And so the Blue Jays’ sell-off is on, Garcia returning Jonatan Clase, a super-toolsy but raw switch-hitting outfielder optioned to triple-A Buffalo, and catcher Jacob Sharp, bound for either low-A Dunedin or possibly a promotion to high-A Vancouver.
The primary get is Clase, the No. 13 prospect in Seattle’s system who debuted in the majors this season and whose inclusion tipped the scales in what was a strong market for Garcia that included multiple teams.
Listed at five-foot-nine and 150 pounds, the 22-year-old has elite speed and power that belies his size, hitting a career best 20 homers at double-A Modesto last year when he also stole 79 bases. In 59 games at triple-A Tacoma this year, he’s batting .274/.373/.483 with 10 homers and 26 stolen bases, while hitting .195/.233/.220 with three steals in 19 games with Seattle.
A strong batting-eye that leads to walks has helped him reach base at a .375 clip in five minor-league seasons, but it’s counter-balanced by an aggressive approach that leads to some chase. That’s an area where the Blue Jays will be betting on some positive growth.
Still, Clase is also an on-the-cusp talent with the type of dynamic skillset the Blue Jays are sorely lacking in their farm system, slowly becoming what the Mariners envisioned when they signed him out of the Dominican Republic back in 2018.
“Our scout, Audo Vincente, loved Clase’s speed, loved his instincts on the bases,” recalled Tim Kissner, who was the Mariners’ director of international operations at the time. “He made hard contact, short swing, played baseball very aggressively. During workouts, he had instincts to play the game, knew how steal, could bunt for a hit, move baserunners with the bat.”
Kissner, who also oversaw the signings of Julio Rodriguez and Freddy Peralta among others with the Mariners, described Clase as exceptionally fast and strong, with a quick and compact swing they felt would lead to consistent quality contact.
“He had a positive energy to him off the field and he played with energy on the field,” said Kissner, who left baseball in 2022 to become a police officer in Juneau, Alaska.
Sharp, meanwhile, is someone the Blue Jays scouted ahead of the 2023 draft, when he was selected in the 17th round by Seattle. Though he’s only five-foot-seven, the Blue Jays feel he has a chance to stick behind the plate, where his disciplined approach and short, high-contact swing might play.
At low-A Modesto, the 22-year-old hit .255/.339/.435 in 44 games, with 18 walks and only 19 strikeouts in 191 plate appearances.
There is risk with all prospects, of course, especially ones who profile the way Clase and Sharp do. But, especially in Clase’s case, it’s a big swing at upside that could make a real impact if it connects.
Now, the Blue Jays expected to be among the teams surrendering these types of prospects rather than acquiring them ahead of the July 30 deadline, but their season hasn’t played out that way. Garcia expressed surprise over how this season has played out and his trade is a product of that.
“It’s a mix of emotions that I’m feeling right now,” Garcia said through interpreter Hector Lebron. “Very happy that I’m going to the Mariners, of course, they’re contending right now. And very sad. The Blue Jays organization, first class, they treated me with a lot of respect, and my teammates, too. So in that aspect, I’m very sad.”
A prevailing emotion for any team selling the way the Blue Jays are right now.
The recent trade of relief pitcher Yimi Garcia from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Houston Astros has raised questions about the direction of the Blue Jays organization. Many fans and analysts believe that this trade is a sign that the Blue Jays are entering a sell-off phase, where they will look to trade away key players in order to rebuild and restock their farm system.
Garcia, who was acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with the Miami Marlins earlier this season, was seen as a valuable asset for the team’s bullpen. However, with the Blue Jays currently sitting at fourth place in the American League East and struggling to keep pace with the top teams in the division, it seems that the organization has decided to shift its focus towards the future.
This trade could be just the beginning of a series of moves by the Blue Jays as they look to reshape their roster and build for the long term. With several key players set to become free agents at the end of the season, including star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and veteran pitcher Robbie Ray, it is likely that the Blue Jays will look to move these players in order to acquire young talent and prospects.
While it may be disappointing for fans to see some of their favorite players leave, this sell-off phase could ultimately benefit the Blue Jays in the long run. By trading away valuable assets now, the team can position themselves for future success by acquiring young, talented players who can help them compete for championships in the years to come.
Overall, the Yimi Garcia trade suggests that the Blue Jays are taking a proactive approach to building for the future. While it may be a difficult transition period for fans to endure, it is a necessary step in order for the team to remain competitive and successful in the long term. Only time will tell if this strategy pays off, but one thing is for certain – the Blue Jays are committed to building a winning team for years to come.