July 31 was a big day for MLB fans. Who went where and what does it all mean? Here’s your quick fix on every trade that matters.
1) Boston sends starter Jon Lester goes to the Oakland A’s along with utility outfielder Jonny Gomes for left-fielder Yoenis Cespedes
Jon Lester
Throws: Left
Age: 30
2014 stats: 10-7, 2.52 ERA, 143 IP, 149/32 K/BB, 1.119 WHIP
Contract status: $13M this season, free agent in 2015
Why it matters to Jays fans: Toronto didn’t get him, but neither did the Orioles. And the Jays won’t have to face him in any of the six games they have left with the Red Sox.
Lester/Cespedes a good deal for both teams. Oakland gets a dominant rental who can be a David Cone-like hired gun, BOS gets needed power.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 31, 2014
Yoenis Cespedes
Bats: Right
Age: 28
2014 stats: 17 HR, 67 RBI, .256/.303/.464, 2.3 WAR
Contract status: $10.5M this season, $10.5M in 2015
Why it matters to Jays fans: The Red Sox get an affordable power bat that is under contract for the 2015 season. It’s an obviously small sample size, but Cespedes has yet to hit a home run in his 11 at-bats at Fenway in 2014.
Jonny Gomes
Bats: Right
Age: 33
2014 stats: 6 HR, 32 RBI, .234/.329/.354, 0.0 WAR
Contract status: $5M this season, free agent in 2015
Why it matters to Jays fans: It boosts the depth of a team the Blue Jays could potentially see in the playoffs. Gomes has post-season experience and won’t take long to adjust to Oakland. He played 99 games with the A’s during the 2012 season.
2) Oakland sends left-hander Tommy Milone to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Sam Fuld.
Tommy Milone
Throws: Left
Age: 27
2014 stats: 6-3, 3.55 ERA, 96.1 IP, 61 K, 26 BB, 1.215 WHIP
Contract status: $0.51M this season
Why it matters to Jays fans: Some thought the Blue Jays should have inquired about Milone after Oakland added Lester this morning. But considering Milone ended up in Minnesota, it doesn’t impact the Blue Jays very much. Toronto doesn’t see the Twins again in 2014.
Sam Fuld
Bats: Right
Age: 28
2014 stats: 2 HR, 21 RBI, .263/.356/.366, 2.3 WAR
Contract status: $0.8M this season
Why it matters to Jays fans: It likely doesn’t. Fuld played for Oakland earlier this season. He provides the A’s with outfield depth for the stretch run.
3) The Boston Red Sox sent starter John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly.
John Lackey
Throws: Right
Age: 35
2014 stats: 11-7, 3.60 ERA, 137.1 IP, 116 K, 32 BB, 1.231 WHIP
Contract status: $15.25M this season, club option for MLB league minimum in 2015
Why it matters to Jays fans: With Lackey switching to the National League, the Blue Jays won’t see him again in 2014. But, without Lackey and Lester, the Red Sox will have a far less experienced rotation in the six remaining games against Toronto.
Allen Craig
Bats: Right
Age: 30
2014 stats: 7 HR, 44 RBI, .237/.291/.346, -0.4 WAR
Contract status: $2.75M this season, $5.5M in 2015, $9M in 2016, $11M in 2017, and $13M in 2018.
Why it matters to Jays fans: Blue Jays fans better get used to seeing Craig because the versatile outfielder is under contract until the end of the 2018 season. Entering 2014, Craig had posted a WAR above 2.4 in each of the last three seasons.
Joe Kelly
Throws: Right
Age: 26
2014 stats: 2-2, 4.37 ERA, 35.0 IP, 25 K, 10 BB, 1.457 WHIP
Contract status: $0.523M this season
Why it matters to Jays fans: Without Lackey and Lester, the Red Sox rotation for the rest of 2014 includes Clay Buchholz, Kelly, Rubby De La Rosa, Brandon Workman and Allen Webster. That’s a big dropoff from the group the Blue Jays are used to seeing.
4) The Milwaukee Brewers acquired outfielder Gerardo Parra from the Arizona Diamondbacks for outfielder Mitch Haniger and left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda.
Gerardo Parra
Bats: Right
Age: 30
2014 stats: 6 HR, 30 RBI, .259/.305/.362, -0.3 WAR
Contract status: $4.85M this season
Why it matters to Jays fans: Frankly, it doesn’t. Parra, who has played his entire career in the National League, didn’t appear to be a target of the Blue Jays.
5) Mariners add Chris Denorfia from San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielder Abraham Almonte and pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen.
Chris Denorfia
Bats: Right
Age: 34
2014 stats:1 HR, 16 RBI, .242/.293/.319, 0.6 WAR
Contract status: $2.25M for this season.
Why it matters to Jays fans: The veteran outfielder provides depth and speed to the Jays’ primary competition in the wild card race (Seattle is 3.0 games back of Toronto). Denorfia can play all three outfield positions, but did not hit very well in the pitcher-friendly Petco Park this season. Still, he posted a 3.9 WAR in 144 games in 2013.
6) The Cleveland Indians dealt shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to the Washington Nationals for infield prospect Zach Walters.
Asdrubal Cabrera
Bats: Right
Age: 28
2014 stats:9 HR, 40 RBI, .246/.305/.386, 1.1 WAR
Contract status: $10M for this season, free agent in 2015.
Why it matters to Jays fans: The Blue Jays had been linked in trade rumours involving Cabrera for quite some time. Cabrera could’ve filled an organizational need at second base, but the Blue Jays will instead stick with internal options such as Munenori Kawasaki, Ryan Goins, and Steve Tolleson in the short term.
7) The Baltimore Orioles acquired reliever Andrew Miller from the Boston Red Sox for pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez.
Andrew Miller
Throws: Left
Age: 29
2014 stats:3-5, 2.34 ERA, 42.1 IP, 69 K, 13 BB, 0.898 WHIP
Contract status: $1.9M for this season/
Why it matters to Jays fans: The Blue Jays’ primary competition in the AL East adds one of the top left-handed relievers available on the market. Miller immediately boosts the Orioles bullpen and could be an important asset in matchups against the Blue Jays. Toronto has a few left-handed batters (Adam Lind, Colby Rasmus, and Juan Francisco) who struggle against lefties.
8) The New York Yankees add infielder Stephen Drew and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox for infielder Kelly Johnson.
Stephen Drew
Bats: Left
Age: 31
2014 stats:4 HR, 11 RBI, .176/.255/.328, 0.0 WAR
Contract status: $14.1M for this season, free agent in 2015.
Why it matters to Jays fans: Not much changes for the Blue Jays as Drew goes from one AL East rival to another. The Yankees are expected to move Drew to second base, a position he has never played in his MLB career.
9)The New York Yankees acquire Martin Prado from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Martin Prado
Bats: Right
Age: 30
2014 stats:5 HR, 42 RBI, .270/.317/.370, 1.1 WAR
Contract status: $11M for this season, $11M in 2015, $11M in 2016.
Why it matters to Jays fans: Some Blue Jays fans believed Prado would’ve been a logical addition, but his salary may not have appealed to the Blue Jays. Prado gives the Yankees plenty of versatility even though his offensive numbers have taken a dip in 2014.
10) The Houston Astros send starter Jarred Cosart, infielder Kike Hernandez, and outfielder Austin Wates to the Miami Marlins for Jake Marisnick, pitcher Frances Martes, and third baseman Colin Moran.
Jarred Cosart
Throws: Right
Age: 24
2014 stats:9-7, 4.41 ERA, 116.1 IP, 75 K, 51 BB, 1.461 WHIP
Contract status: $0.5M this season.
Why it matters to Jays fans: Cosart was originally scheduled to start Thursday night against Blue Jays before he was dealt to Miami. Now, the Blue Jays certainly won’t see him for the rest of the 2014 season.
11) Tampa Bay sends David Price to Detroit in blockbuster three-team deal with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays.
David Price
Throws: Left
Age: 28
2014 stats:11-8, 3.11 ERA, 170.2 IP, 189 K, 23 BB, 1.05 WHIP
Contract status: $14M this season, arbitration eligible for 2015.
Why it matters to Jays fans: For one, Price is no longer in the AL East. The Blue Jays haven’t had much success against him in the past. By moving Price, the Rays significantly decrease their playoff chances for 2014 and will be without a proven ace for the 2015 season. At the same time, the Tigers now boast a staff that features the past three AL Cy Young winners (Price, Justin Verlander, and Max Scherzer).
Austin Jackson
Bats: Right
Age: 27
2014 stats:4 HR, 32 RBI, .270/.330/.397, 1.2 WAR.
Contract status: $6M this season.
Why it matters to Jays fans: Jackson gives the Mariners a new starting centre fielder. He rejoins Lloyd McClendon, who was an assistant with the Tigers under Jim Leyland before taking over as the Mariners’ manager this past off-season.
Drew Smyly
Throws: Left
Age: 25
2014 stats:6-9, 3.93 ERA, 105.1 IP, 89 K, 31 BB, 1.35 WHIP
Contract status: $0.52M this season.
Why it matters to Jays fans: The Blue Jays will see a lot of Smyly in the future. At just 25 years old, he is expected to become a staple of the Rays’ rotation and gives the franchise another quality young starter alongside Alex Cobb, Chris Archer, and Jake Odorizzi.
Nick Franklin
Bats: Switch-hitter
Age: 23
2014 stats:0 HR, 2 RBI, .128/.192/.170, 0.0 WAR.
Contract status: $0.5102M this season.
Why it matters to Jays fans: It remains unclear whether the Rays plan to use Franklin at shortstop or second base. He gives the club an up-and-coming infield prospect with significant upside. It’s a more of a long-term acquisition so there’s no immediate impact for Blue Jays fans here.