Blue Jays trade for... Steven Matz?

[jaysguy44]

Jays love to trade for garbage pitchers boy, especially with the Mets.

Another new poster, who happens to be a clown.

 

Posts like this are more suited for Twitter, stay on there.

[WONDERBAT]

Reid Foley has huge upside. Bad trade for the jays

 

In the trash bag rotations we've thrown out in the last two years SRF couldn't even manage to get 40IP, he's bad.

[Grant77]

Statistically, Steven Matz was at his worst in a lot of ways last year.

 

In a pandemic-abridged season, Matz posted a 9.68 ERA (44 ERA+), 7.76 FIP and 1.696 WHIP. He also finished in the bottom six percentile in exit velocity allowed, hard-hit percentage and expected batting average.

 

So for those seeking positives in the aftermath of Matz joining the Toronto Blue Jays from the New York Mets via trade, they'll have to look a bit closer.

 

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins certainly has, and he explained his excitement for adding Matz during Thursday morning's Lead Off show on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.

 

“We’re excited about his ability to get swing-and-miss, we’re excited about the power to his stuff," Atkins said. "Incredibly hard working, incredible teammate."

 

We can't quantify Matz's work ethic or value as a teammate just yet, but Atkins makes a point about the on-the-mound qualities. Matz's average fastball velocity was 94.5 m.p.h. last season, which was his highest since his debut season in 2015 and nearly two ticks higher than league average.

 

From a swing-and-miss standpoint, his 23.4 whiff rate lagged behind league average (26.8), but he sported a 32.6 whiff rate on change-ups. Some combination of above-average fastball velocity and a missable change-up could be a recipe for a rebound.

 

There's also this: in 2020, every offering from Matz’s four-pitch mix had a higher weighted on base average (wOBA) than expected — which isn’t a good thing for pitchers. That’s been the case for most of his career, as his total wOBA has exceed his xwOBA in five of six seasons.

 

Clearly the Blue Jays see some things they like, and Atkins believes there's room for Matz to succeed on this roster.

 

"I’m excited to have (our personnel) try to put this guy in a position to have success," Atkins said. "Guys who can get major league hitters to swing and miss at a good clip and don’t walk a lot of guys, there’s a place for them on every team. On every team. And hopefully we can be a part of his continued growth and development and continuing to get better."

[Krylian]

In the trash bag rotations we've thrown out in the last two years SRF couldn't even manage to get 40IP, he's bad.

 

He has the potential to be a nice reliever but he's shown nowhere near enough to think it's likely. At least not with any consistency.

 

If the change of scenery works out for him and he's able to carve out a ML career, then good for him. It wasn't going to happen in Toronto.

[wilko]

He has the potential to be a nice reliever but he's shown nowhere near enough to think it's likely. At least not with any consistency.

 

If the change of scenery works out for him and he's able to carve out a ML career, then good for him. It wasn't going to happen in Toronto.

 

He showed flashes of potential, but could never really keep his pitches under control. Not a good sign if he's going to stay a RP.

[Laika]

I don't even know why people think SRF has good reliever potential anymore. It's like a 55 velo fastball out of the pen, no command, and I don't even think he has good spin.

 

It's AAA stuff. I think he's cooked.

[Orgfiller]

I don't even know why people think SRF has good reliever potential anymore. It's like a 55 velo fastball out of the pen, no command, and I don't even think he has good spin.

 

It's AAA stuff. I think he's cooked.

 

Yeah I think people expected him to be pumping 97+ from the bullpen and that just wasn't the case. He's a middling fastball + decent slider reliever with zero control. People stuck on his "potential" are living 5+ years into the past.

[Laika]

Yeah I think people expected him to be pumping 97+ from the bullpen and that just wasn't the case. He's a middling fastball + decent slider reliever with zero control. People stuck on his "potential" are living 5+ years into the past.

 

Diaz is a way better arm. He was 60 FB against the O's in that one game, with a hard changeup that flashed some wicked movement. I could see him developing into a useful reliever. In Japan.

[Virgil_Hiltz]

I don't even know why people think SRF has good reliever potential anymore. It's like a 55 velo fastball out of the pen, no command, and I don't even think he has good spin.

 

It's AAA stuff. I think he's cooked.

 

From my POV it seemed he struggled mentally.....seemed to cave-in when a bounce didnt go his way

[wilko]

Diaz is a way better arm. He was 60 FB against the O's in that one game, with a hard changeup that flashed some wicked movement. I could see him developing into a useful reliever. In Japan.

 

Thanks Cito.

[G-Snarls]

[Spanky99]

FYI: this kind of post adds absolutely nothing to the conversation, and will probably end up getting you banned eventually. There are reasons for being unhappy with this trade (I guess?), and you're free to articulate them.

 

You should take a gander at Jaysareus post history, all he/she does is troll.

[Spanky99]

Lots of platoon options on this roster now, should work out quite well after an abbreviated season, there's nothing wrong with this trade, good deal.

[Brownie19]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/blue-jays-add-even-more-rotation-depth-in-trade-for-steven-matz/

[G-Snarls]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/blue-jays-add-even-more-rotation-depth-in-trade-for-steven-matz/

 

Yeah

 

Depth we have

 

What we lack is top of the rotation punch

[Ray]

Yeah

 

Depth we have

 

What we lack is top of the rotation punch

 

Realistically, every team in our position in recent years have had some young guy step up to the occasion to provide said top of the rotation punch:

 

Braves: Soroka & Fried.

White Sox: Giolito

Padres: Paddack, Lamet

 

We're gonna need a good story from at least one of our young guys. It's hard to account for it, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Pearson becomes that guy, or Thornton improves from his rookie season, or one of Hatch/Merryweather/Kay step up. Personally, I'm comfortable if we add one of Odorizzi, Paxton, or Walker. I don't think we're done.