Blue Jays aquire Taijuan Walker for Alberto Rodriguez

[Corporal Valdal]

Ken Rosenthal

@Ken_Rosenthal

·

2m

The Blue Jays have acquired Taijuan Walker from the Mariners, source tells The Athletic.

[Laika]

I thought he would be a likely target because the cost can't be high (4.94 FIP and a pending free agent) but there is some upside.

 

I don't see any statistical indicators of immediate upside so it's more "lightning in a bottle" upside based on his pedigree.

 

Apparently it's a PTBNL so we have to wait and see the cost. Hopefully just a lower upside prospect.

[saskjayfan]

Lance Lynn....nope...Walker. Disappointing.

[glory]

It's a minor leaguer not on the 60 man player pool according to Rosenthal, hence PTBNL.

[saskjayfan]

quit shopping at the thrift store. It's time to hit Rodeo Drive. This move is fine, if they go get a much better starter to go along with Walker. He's another 5th starter expiring this year. We have Ryu and 3 back end starters.

[Laika]

Walker might be the best of the available SP that was certain to get traded. I don't mind Toronto jumping on him. They need competent SP reinforcements.

 

The sexier guys like Lynn, Clevinger, and Bundy might very well not get dealt. I don't think it makes sense to go crazy and overpay for one of them just to have a slightly better chance of winning as the 8th seed.

[Perfect Game]

Lance Lynn....nope...Walker. Disappointing.

 

The trade deadline is the 31st. Patience grasshopper.

[RustyTrombone]

Now hopefully the attention can shift to picking up a backup catcher who can hit at least a little and a competent platoon guy for Shaw.

[jerb]

 

 

Toronto Blue Jays

@BlueJays

 

OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired RHP Taijuan Walker from the M’s for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

 

Welcome to the #BlueJays, @tai_walker !

[wilko]

"The Blue Jays have agreed to acquire right-hander Taijuan Walker from the Mariners, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter links). Seattle will receive a player to be named later who is not currently in the Blue Jays’ 60-man player pool. GM Jerry Dipoto confirmed the report in a radio appearance on 710 ESPN Seattle (Twitter link via Jessamyn McIntyre), adding that he hopes to eventually bring Walker back to the Mariner as a free agent.

 

Walker, who turned 28 earlier this month, was the No. 43 overall draft pick by the Mariners back in 2010 and spent six years in the organization before being traded to the D-backs in the 2016-17 offseason. He returned to Seattle on a one-year, $2MM deal this season after missing the vast majority of the 2018-19 seasons in Arizona due to injury. That figure is prorated to about $720K in the shortened season, with about $344K of that sum remains to be paid out. Presumably, the Jays are on the hook for that portion of the deal.

 

Though the reunion was short-lived, Walker looked plenty healthy in his five starts to begin the season. He’s pitched to an even 4.00 ERA with a 25-to-8 K/BB ratio, five homers allowed and a 36.8 percent ground-ball rate. Walker’s most recent outing saw him hold a tough Dodgers lineup to three runs — all solo homers — on four hits and a walk with eight punchouts over seven frames. Walker has averaged 93 mph on his heater thus far in 2020, and that number has crept upward of late; he sat at 92.6 mph as recently as July 31 but averaged 93.3 mph in his two most recent outings.

 

The Jays will add Walker to a rotation that recently lost Nate Pearson to an elbow injury and has generally struggled beyond top starter Hyun Jin Ryu. Veterans Matt Shoemaker and Tanner Roark have matching 4.91 ERAs — each with an FIP greater than 6.00. Righty Chase Anderson has been solid in a tiny sample, but he only just returned from an oblique injury and has yet to top five innings in a single appearance this year. The Jays have ridden an unexpectedly strong bullpen into the AL Wild Card mix, but it’s been clear that rotation upgrades would be needed for the team to hang onto that opportunity.

 

General manager Ross Atkins made that much clear a week ago when he acknowledged his plans to focus on win-now moves — specifically those that would reinforce his team’s starting pitching. The Jays were also recently linked to Pirates righties Trevor Williams and Chad Kuhl, and it stands to reason that they could yet look into acquiring another starter. For now, Walker represents an affordable rotation upgrade who could conceivably make six or seven starts over the final 32 days of the regular season. He’d likely factor into the club’s playoff rotation as well, should the Jays ultimately qualify.

More to come."

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/08/mariners-trade-taijuan-walker-blue-jays.html

[saskjayfan]

Walker might be the best of the available SP that was certain to get traded. I don't mind Toronto jumping on him. They need competent SP reinforcements.

 

The sexier guys like Lynn, Clevinger, and Bundy might very well not get dealt. I don't think it makes sense to go crazy and overpay for one of them just to have a slightly better chance of winning as the 8th seed.

 

I don't see any scenario in which Bauer doesn't get traded. He's expiring, the Reds aren't making the playoffs. It would be professional negligence for any GM not to trade Bauer under those circumstances.

[saskjayfan]

The trade deadline is the 31st. Patience grasshopper.

 

Fair enough. We need an arm right now. I'm guessing it cost next to nothing. I just hope it means we're not out on Bauer.

[z3r0s]

Great acquisition in my mind. Also doesn't take us out of any other bidding as far as I can tell.

Will be interesting to reexamine when the PTBNL comes out.

[wilko]

Fair enough. We need an arm right now. I'm guessing it cost next to nothing. I just hope it means we're not out on Bauer.

 

The Jays are in on Bauer?

[The Iceman]

For those complaining about the new pitcher he will slot in as our #2 SP.

 

Jays fans will love Walker if he stays healthy.

[Laika]

I don't see any scenario in which Bauer doesn't get traded. He's expiring, the Reds aren't making the playoffs. It would be professional negligence for any GM not to trade Bauer under those circumstances.

 

It's a very unpredictable trade market. They can QO Bauer and get compensation. Will teams be willing to give up premium assets this year for rentals, with so many teams in the playoffs? I dunno!

[TheHurl]

I just think if premium pitchers are available there are teams we don't want to compete with who will be in.

[G-Snarls]

Walker might be the best of the available SP that was certain to get traded. I don't mind Toronto jumping on him. They need competent SP reinforcements.

 

The sexier guys like Lynn, Clevinger, and Bundy might very well not get dealt. I don't think it makes sense to go crazy and overpay for one of them just to have a slightly better chance of winning as the 8th seed.

 

Early trade

 

Fine with it for what it is

Edited August 27, 2020 by G-Snarls

[Orgfiller]

It's a very unpredictable trade market. They can QO Bauer and get compensation. Will teams be willing to give up premium assets this year for rentals, with so many teams in the playoffs? I dunno!

 

I thought QOs were only possible if the player spent the full year on the team? I think trading for a player and being able to offer them a QO was removed in the last CBA.

[Ray]

Hopefully we end up giving up nothing, like Kyle Johnston.

[BTS]

I thought QOs were only possible if the player spent the full year on the team? I think trading for a player and being able to offer them a QO was removed in the last CBA.

 

He means that the Reds can offer Bauer the QO, and that the comp might be compelling if teams shy away from big rentals due to the expanded playoff field and corresponding reduced championship odds for top teams.

[saskjayfan]

The Jays are in on Bauer?

 

Why not we're in the playoffs! I hate the we're not good enough mindset, let's not go for it mentality. We could probably pick up Cabrera to upgrade 3rd base for next to nothing. Maybe trade shaw and a lower level prospect. You add bauer and our lineup looks pretty good when you look at how good our bullpen is. The Royals won the world series....why not us.

[BlueRocky]

It’s PTBNL or cash. Basically a free rental.

The PTBNL isn’t going to be a significant name like Kloffenstein, Atkins would never do that for a rental.

More likely a Leonardo Jimenez or Yennsy Diaz type.

 

Walker replaces Thornton in the rotation.

[saskjayfan]

It’s PTBNL or cash. Basically a free rental.

The PTBNL isn’t going to be a significant name like Kloffenstein, Atkins would never do that for a rental.

 

Walker replaces Thornton in the rotation.

 

I would give up Kloffenstein in a heart beat for Bauer.

[Jimcanuck]

I would give up Kloffenstein in a heart beat for Bauer.

 

This FO won't. Nor should they.

[The Iceman]

Stoeten is saying it will be a player, not a cash transaction.

 

the Seattle GM is already indicating they want to sign Walker back next season.

[wilko]

Stoeten is saying it will be a player, not a cash transaction.

 

the Seattle GM is already indicating they want to sign Walker back next season.

 

Well TFB! Once he plays for the Bisons he will never want to leave.

[Perfect Game]

i would give up kloffenstein in a heart beat for bauer.

 

i CAN"T EVEN.....cf

[BlueRocky]

[saskjayfan]

This FO won't. Nor should they.

 

My god he's 2 to 3 years away. We have 4 or 5 pitching prospects ahead of him. We have 35 million in payroll committed to 2022. Bauer gives you a chance to win this year! Having Bauer gives us the inside track on signing him next year. We have tons of payroll.

 

Your prospect love is sickening. Prospects are cool, parades are cooler. We're not talking about a sure fire can't miss prospect. If you're not willing to give up a Kloffenstein, you won't ever give up a prospect.