The Grichuk trade and Toronto’s crowded catching situation

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On Thursday, the Toronto Blue Jays got the left-handed bat they so desperately needed.

Toronto traded outfielder Randall Grichuk to the Colorado Rockies (along with cash) for outfielder Raimel Tapia and minor leaguer Adrian Pinto. 

Tapia is a very professional hitter who is a career .280/.325/.395. He doesn’t have much power, but he can run a bit as he stole 20 bases in 2021. He is a contact hitter and a solid defender in left field.

I love this trade for the Jays. They needed a left-handed bat. The fact that Tapia is a contact hitter and adds speed are bonuses. But what makes the deal even better is the prospect the Jays acquired. 

Pinto is a 19-year-old second baseman/shortstop/centre fielder who can fly. He is listed at 5-foot-6 and 156 pounds. He is tiny but he can play. He hit .360/.487/.543 in the Dominican Summer League and stole 41 of 49 bases in just 54 games played. He walked 38 times and only struck out 18 times. 

It’s a long road from the DSL to the majors but Pinto’s numbers are intriguing. He was certainly worth the money the Jays had to add to the deal to get it done.

A crowded catching situation

Quality major league catchers are hard to come by. The two-way catcher who can hit and manage a pitching staff with aplomb is rare these days, and they are highly coveted.

Some catchers are good defenders but can’t hit much. They may fit well on teams with plenty of offence that can sacrifice some production from behind the plate. Other backstops are better offensively and may not be the most flexible receivers. Teams that need offence might be willing to sacrifice defensive skills behind the plate for a run producer. 

The Blue Jays are blessed with uncommon depth at the catching