Slade

Obviously a joke but I can already see it on twitter. "Atkins hates Canadians! First Martin and now Axford"

I think we could do better than Axford or at least find a younger guy to give a chance to. I would do a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Might of painted Atkins in the corner with the casuals. I can already see it on Twitter.

The Dodgers are bringing back an old friend, as catcher Russell Martin is returning to Los Angeles. The Dodgers acquired Martin from the Blue Jays on Friday afternoon in exchange for righthander Andrew Sopko and infielder Ronny Brito. Martin hit .194/.338/.325 for the Blue Jays last season in what was the worst offensive season of his career. The 35-year-old is in the final year of a five-year contract and is slated to earn $20 million in 2019. A seventh-round pick out of Gonzaga in 2015, Sopko ranked 26th on the Dodgers' Top 30 Prospects as recently as two years ago. He has spent much of the past three seasons at Double-A Tulsa. Brito ranked 25th on Baseball America's Top 50 International amateur prospects in 2015. The 19-year-old switch-hitter spent much of last season at short-season Ogden. DODGERS ACQUIRE: Russell Martin, C Age: 35 It's been a long time since Martin backstopped the Dodgers to back-to-back NLCS appearances in 2008-09 and made back-to-back All-Star games with the team. Then a young, rising standout, Martin is now a veteran on his last legs. He played only 91 games last season and 90 games the year before due to injury, and he has seen his offense decline rapidly, cratering with last season's career-worst showing. Martin is still an able defensive catcher on a part-time basis, and he moved to third base for 21 games last year as well (in addition to three games at shortstop). With the Dodgers lacking a big league catcher to pair with Austin Barnes, Martin fills that need and provides veteran leadership in the clubhouse. For Toronto, this move opens up playing time for rising young catchers Danny Jansen and Reese McGuire. Aaron-Sanchez-2017-cw Blue Jays Build New Culture The Blue Jays are trying to win now and build something sustainable BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE: Andrew Sopko, RHP Age: 24 Sopko has spent the last three seasons bouncing between high Class A and Double-A, but he appeared to finally solve the higher level last season, going 3-1, 2.88 with 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 41 appearances (10 starts) at Double-A Tulsa. Like many Dodgers pitchers, Sopko primarily works north-south with a four-seam fastball up and a curveball down in the zone. He sits 92-93 mph and stands out more for his pitchability than his pure stuff, hitting his spots and mixing in a slider and changeup to keep hitters off balance. None of Sopko's offerings are truly plus, but he throws strikes and mixes his pitches enough for evaluators to see him contributing in the majors in some form. Sopko will begin his Blue Jays career in the upper levels of their system and has a chance to make his major debut in 2019 if he performs. Ronny Brito, SS Age: 19 Brito signed for $2 million as part of the Dodgers’ loaded 2015 international class that included Yadier Alvarez and Oneil Cruz. A broken leg limited him to 28 games in 2017, but he re-emerged in 2018 by leading all Pioneer League shortstops in home runs (11) and OPS (.841) at Rookie-level Ogden. Brito signed as a slick-fielding defensive shortstop whose defense was ahead of his bat, but he put on 20 pounds after his injury and now has a more balanced projection. Brito shows rare opposite-field power for a teenager, ambushing fastballs with a steep, uphill swing. He’s an aggressive free-swinger who doesn’t adjust with two strikes, resulting in plenty of strikeouts, but he makes impact contact when he connects. He is still working to improve his secondary pitch recognition and strike zone management. Brito has slowed down in the field but still flashes excellent hands, a smooth transfer and plus arm strength, giving him a chance to remain a shortstop. He is lethargic in the field sometimes and makes poor baserunning decisions, so his effort and focus are areas targeted for improvement. Brito’s ability to hit the ball hard and play a smooth defensive shortstop provide a workable foundation. Now, he needs to add maturity to his game. He will try to do that low Class A in 2019.

No way that wouldn't make much sense. Jansen starting, Maile backup and McGuire in AAA. McGuire has shown some potential too, i wouldn't be so fast to delegate him as a backup.

Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #26 prospect after the 2016 season Sopko arrived at Gonzaga from a Montana high school and eventually developed into one of the better starters in the West Coast Conference. He signed with the Dodgers for $147,500 as a seventh-round pick in 2015, then caught the attention of scouts with his feel for pitching in his first full season of pro ball. Like fellow Dodgers righthander Chase De Jong, Sopko stands out more for his pitchability than his pure stuff. Sopko lacks a plus pitch, but he's able to command his arsenal, hit his spots, moves the ball around the zone and change speeds. He works off a fastball that sits at 89-92 mph and can hit 94. It's not overpowering, but he pounds the zone and attacks hitters on the inner third. Sopko is able to land his curveball, slider and changeup for strikes, though without a true out pitch, Double-A hitters made him pay for mistakes he was able to get away with at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga. They're all fringe-average pitches, with his slider his best weapon against righties, while he uses the changeup and curveball more to attack lefties. Sopko, who likely returns to Double-A Tulsa in 2017, has the upside of a back-end starter.

#BlueJays announce trade of Russell Martin and cash to #Dodgers for minor-leaguers SS Ronny Brito and RHP Andrew Sopko

Gotta imagine we are eating at least $15M+ on this deal but it had to happen.

Seems like a weak draft class this year outside of the top 3. Names I want the Jays to be in on. Carter Stewart Corbin Carroll Matt Alan Kameron Misner Ryne Nelson Kendall Williams

Were you expecting them to trade Pillar, Martin, Morales and Smoak? I think most of those guys are long shots to move and it's not like we have anyone who could take over full time for any of them except Martin who won't play everyday. I think they did a pretty good job a collecting a s*** ton of pitching depth(more than we've ever had). There might not be any 1-2 guys here but there are a bunch of serviceable arms that they can just throw out there and see who sticks.

If Connor Panas can get this guy maybe Dalton Pompey actually does have some value.

Doesn't really change much about the deal but there are incentives.

No clue man, that's what I've read on twitter. We are exactly as bad as the Giants and probably going to be in the same boat again next year.

It would be a fantastic signing, exactly what we need but i doubt we will be given serious consideration. It's already rumored the Giants are the favorites.

I'm hoping for Sam McWilliams either as a pen guy or a potential backend starter.

I'm ok with them going to pen route with him. He's proven he can't stay healthy as a starter.

All for bringing Gravemen back.

I can live with McKinney, Pillar and Grichuk in the OF in a rebuilding year. There are other potential guys but they won't be good defenders. There's no real need for Hamilton. I want to see as many young guys playing as possible even if they suck.

Meh Pillar is a better player.

I cannot believe the Mets are going to make this trade.

Damn man I hate the Yankees but I admire how good a GM Brian Cashman.

Pillar gets worst ever year, nothing you can do about that he's a bad player.

I mean if he can't play next year, you just eat the money and move on or try to trade him for someone else's problem contract. We're rebuilding so not really as big as an issue people are making it out to be.

Easily. Smith Jr Pompey Travis Solarte Maile Leiter Jr. Pillar Davis

I have to expect Rivera is gone or at the very least moved into a different position.