Blue Jays acquire Daulton Varsho for Moreno and Gurriel

[Ehjays]

The D-back side of the trade.

 

https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/gabriel-moreno-lourdes-gurriel-jr-traded-to-d-backs

 

D-backs get Moreno, Gurriel Jr., send Varsho to Toronto

 

PHOENIX -- When he attended the General Managers Meetings in early November, one of the first people D-backs GM Mike Hazen met with was his Blue Jays counterpart, Ross Atkins.

 

The D-backs, Hazen told Atkins, were interested acquiring one of Toronto's catchers, while the Blue Jays wanted to talk about Arizona's surplus of outfielders. With Daulton Varsho, Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy and Corbin Carroll, the D-backs had four young left-handed-hitting outfielders, and there had been chatter since the final month of the season about how they would alleviate the logjam.

 

The two sides circled each other for six weeks afterwards to find just the right combination of players before finally agreeing Friday on a trade that sent Varsho to Toronto in exchange for catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

 

TRADE DETAILS

D-backs get: C Gabriel Moreno, OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Blue Jays get: OF Daulton Varsho

 

With one fell swoop, the D-backs filled their need for another catcher as well as adding two right-handed bats to a lineup that was left-handed heavy.

 

In Moreno, the D-backs are getting one of the best rising stars in baseball. He was ranked as the Jays' No. 1 prospect and No. 4 in the sport when he was called up to the big leagues in June, before he graduated out of MLB Pipeline's prospects list.

 

"We think he has the ability to be an impact catcher behind the plate, offensively and defensively," Hazen said. "He can throw the ball really well. I know some of his receiving stuff, we need to continue to work through and improve. We feel like he’s going to be a really good blocker. He’s a really good hitter. He’s always been a good hitter. He’s hit since the day he came into baseball. I think that’s the reason people think as highly as they do. He has the ability to get on base. He makes contact. He has a great two-strike approach. He’s just a really good hitter."

 

Moreno, 22, will not be eligible for salary arbitration until 2026 and cannot become a free agent for another six seasons.

 

The acquisition of Moreno does not spell the end of Carson Kelly's time in Arizona. The D-backs view Kelly's presence as a way to ease Moreno's transition to the big leagues. While regarded as one of the best prospects in the game, Moreno has just 73 plate appearances in the Majors.

 

As for Gurriel, he's hit .285 in five years with Toronto, including two 20-homer seasons. Gurriel has played primarily left field for the Blue Jays. He played some first base the past couple of seasons as well, and earlier in his career he played 46 games at shortstop and 33 at second base.

 

For right now, the D-backs see him as an outfielder, but Hazen did not rule out talking to Gurriel, who will be a free agent at season's end, at some point to gauge his comfort level playing in the infield.

 

"He’s always been a very good hitter," Hazen said. "We’re excited to add this guy into our lineup. We think he has a chance to be one of our better hitters."

 

While the D-backs were excited about what they acquired, they were equally anguished by what they had to give up. Varsho was not only an elite defender and above-average hitter, but he was also extremely popular with his teammates.

 

With that in mind, the D-backs baseball operations staff took the step of calling a number of key players to explain to them the thinking behind the move.

 

"I think they just had questions about what was our thought process behind what we were trying to do," Hazen said. "Explaining our valuations of the players that we acquired. I think in Daulton’s case, because he had the most tenure of that group, I think a little more explanation was needed, frankly. I don’t blame them for wanting more explanation for that. I don’t ask them to blindly trust us. Trust is earned and frankly over the last couple of years I haven't really done that. But we have a fairly robust thought process behind what we are doing and why we’re trying to get where we’re going."

[JaysAllMighty]

Yeah dude is built like a bulldog. Similar build to Trout

 

That's exactly my thought. I think we hit the jackpot.

[Ehjays]

[Deadpool]

Yeah that's definitely the hope. I just don't see as much red in his Savant page, like we did with Nootbar, where we could actually dream on rockets making it through the infield defense.

 

In this case, we're hoping dribblers make it through...

 

Not exactly the greatest recipe to dream on imo.

 

Maybe his Savant page isn't as red as you'd like, but these are his SLG% in the minors:

 

2017 ARI A- .534

2018 ARI R 1.083

2018 ARI A+ .451

2019 ARI AA .520

2021 ARI AAA .750

 

There's some thunder in that bat that may be a few tweaks, or even just getting more used to MLB pitching, away.

[Omar]

Daulton Varsho, Kevin Kiermaier, Chris Bassitt, Erik Swanson in... Lourdes, Moreno, Teo out... Is Atkins lowkey a racist?

 

The barrio got nuked.

[Deadpool]

 

Thread with a few tidbits...

[glory]

It is irritating to see this trade labeled as a win-now trade. Win-now trades is when you get back a player for 1-2 years, not 4.

 

Yeah Varsho has more control than Vlad and Bo. He definitely helps short term but he’s a long term option.

 

I like how Atkins has balanced both short and long term building this off season. Smart and practical off season so far.

[Stangstag]

 

Answers that question.

 

I kinda agree. Would have liked to hang on to Gurriel but if he was a necessity then oh well. Varsho will be exciting to watch for the next 4 years

[Omar]

Are you ready for this? Varsho knows how to lay it down.

 

[Stangstag]

Are you ready for this? Varsho knows how to lay it down.

 

 

Dude is faaaast. Love this

[THANOS]

Maybe his Savant page isn't as red as you'd like, but these are his SLG% in the minors:

 

2017 ARI A- .534

2018 ARI R 1.083

2018 ARI A+ .451

2019 ARI AA .520

2021 ARI AAA .750

 

There's some thunder in that bat that may be a few tweaks, or even just getting more used to MLB pitching, away.

 

Thanks. We can only hope for sure. I'm hoping KK & Varsho spend much of the offseason at the Performance Complex with Mattingly. Hell, Vladdy should as well. Pitch recognition improvement could help all 3 significantly.

[Deadpool]

Are you ready for this? Varsho knows how to lay it down.

 

 

I'm just going to have to get over my blinding hatred of bunts, I guess. It'll take work.

[Omar]

Calling it now.

 

2023 Blue Jay HR leaders:

 

1. Vladdy

2. Varsho

3. Chapman

[connorp]

Calling it now.

 

2023 Blue Jay HR leaders:

 

1. Vladdy

2. Varsho

3. Chapman

 

You’re not dancing on a twig there, mate

[Brownie19]

I think fans are really going to love the way Varsho plays. I think he'll quickly become a massive fan favourite. The guy is a f***ing stud defensively, runs the bases aggressively and cranks HRs. It's like Teo meets Pillar.

[Dagagad]

Who are you replying to dude? lol... seems so random.

 

s***, i didnt quote the person! Lol.

 

Someone said leftists would be screeching if we signed Bauer.

[Dagagad]

The more highlights i see of Varsho, the more excited i am. Pretty hyped about this team. I feel like we are pretty significantly better .

[jaysblue]

I don't have a problem with this trade at all.

 

I know we all loved Moreno, though lets say he played at the Majors this season and struggled offensively - what happens to his trade value afterwards?

 

Varsho is exactly the perfect fit and exactly what the Jays 2023 roster needed. Left-handed bat with power, a stud defensively and can even play behind the plate the odd time. He's under club control until 2027 and will be 26 next season, so the Jays have him during what should be his prime years. Pretty excited about this one. Glad Atkins did shake things up this offseason. The FO did a great job to address issues that plagued them in 2022.

 

Let's hope they could add maybe one more elite LHP reliever and another No. 5 starter if possible, though otherwise this has been a very nice offseason for the Jays!

[John_Havok]

Are you ready for this? Varsho knows how to lay it down.

 

 

I’m gonna partially wet-blanket these two posts, it shows a bunch of singles potentially taken away by the shift, but then a bunch of bunt singles….largely due to where the 2b was positioned …in the shift. If he gains some singles from the shift restrictions, he’s going to lose some of those drag bunt singles too.

[Dagagad]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/insider/story/_/id/34978963/2022-23-mlb-offseason-grades-free-agency-trade-analysis

 

Espn gives us a C and Arizona an A for this deal. I kind of agree that this was a clear overpay but also acceptable as what we are getting is scarce.

[connorp]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/insider/story/_/id/34978963/2022-23-mlb-offseason-grades-free-agency-trade-analysis

 

Espn gives us a C and Arizona an A for this deal. I kind of agree that this was a clear overpay but also acceptable as what we are getting is scarce.

 

Copy/paste a paywall article or don’t link it lol

[Dagagad]

Copy/paste a paywall article or don’t link it lol

 

I can see it and im not an insider. Have you tried clicking through? If you can’t ill paste it in.

[Laika]

I think fans are really going to love the way Varsho plays. I think he'll quickly become a massive fan favourite. The guy is a f***ing stud defensively, runs the bases aggressively and cranks HRs. It's like Teo meets Pillar.

 

He is kind of like Kole Calhoun but if he was a phenomenal defender

 

Maybe more power but his physique is so similar to Calhoun

[Captain_Obvious]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/insider/story/_/id/34978963/2022-23-mlb-offseason-grades-free-agency-trade-analysis

 

Espn gives us a C and Arizona an A for this deal. I kind of agree that this was a clear overpay but also acceptable as what we are getting is scarce.

 

I give the article an F. Focuses too much on Gurriel as if he was a major factor in the trade. He was a throw in. I know there was an article about how the Blue Jays needed to include him, but I am positive the conversation went like this:

 

Haze: We need you to add something on top of Moreno.

Atkins: I see, how about Horwitz or Irv Carter?

Haze: No we want Gurriel to balance our offense.

Atkins: f*** YES .. I mean .. Oh noes .. you are breaking my balls Haze .. you should know you are getting a great deal now.

[Captain_Obvious]

Copy/paste a paywall article or don’t link it lol

 

https://archive.vn/rGIzD

[connorp]

https://archive.vn/rGIzD

 

Thanks. I thought it was pretty well-written. Not clueless at all

 

They just said Moreno was an overpay essentially, so they shouldnt have needed to add LG.

But he also said he saw why it made sense. So I think some people here see it the same (Moreno overpay but makes sense, I mean)

[Captain_Obvious]

Thanks. I thought it was pretty well-written. Not clueless at all

 

Any opinion worrying about the inclusion of Gurriel in the trade is clueless.

[connorp]

Any opinion worrying about the inclusion of Gurriel in the trade is clueless.

 

You had to seek that out really. He just said LG is a superior hitter in one sentence and pointed out the projections backing it up.

[JaysAllMighty]

[h=1]Mike Hazen Press Conference: Daulton Varsho, Gabriel Moreno, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Trade:[/h]

 

 

https://sportrelay.com/mlb/2022/12/24/mike-hazen-press-conference/

[Dagagad]

I give the article an F. Focuses too much on Gurriel as if he was a major factor in the trade. He was a throw in. I know there was an article about how the Blue Jays needed to include him, but I am positive the conversation went like this:

 

Haze: We need you to add something on top of Moreno.

Atkins: I see, how about Horwitz or Irv Carter?

Haze: No we want Gurriel to balance our offense.

Atkins: f*** YES .. I mean .. Oh noes .. you are breaking my balls Haze .. you should know you are getting a great deal now.

 

Gurriel is a well above average hitter. He has value.