Blue Jays Notebook: Rays' trades as impressive as their undefeated record

TORONTO – What the Tampa Bay Rays are doing is incredible.
 

Two weeks into the season, they remain undefeated, arriving in Toronto with a 13-0 record that’s unsurpassed in modern baseball history. 

“A historical run for our whole sport” said starter Chris Bassitt.

“Uniquely hot,” added manager John Schneider.
 

Eventually they’ll lose, of course. In fact, common sense says it’ll likely happen at some point this weekend, as the 8-5 Blue Jays are playing some good baseball too. 

But as long as the Rays are the talk of baseball, it’s worth appreciating how they got here. While high draft picks like Shane McClanahan and international signings like Wander Franco are core players for this team, it’s the trades made under president of baseball operations Erik Neander that set this roster apart. Consider these moves from the last five years alone:

2018: acquired Yandy Diaz in a three-team deal for cash and Jake Bauers
2019: acquired Pete Fairbanks for Nick Solak 

2020: acquired Randy Arozarena in a deal for Matthew Liberatore, minor-leaguer Edgardo Rodriguez and a 2020 supplemental draft pick

2021: acquired Drew Rasmussen in a deal for Willy Adames and Trevor Richards; acquired Jeffrey Springs in a deal for minor leaguers Ronaldo Hernández and Nick Sogard 

 2022: acquired Harold Ramirez for Esteban Quiroz

Simply put, the Rays are making a yearly habit of acquiring impact without giving up anywhere close to comparable value. Of all the players given up in those deals, Adames is by far the best, but the Rays were able to part with him since Franco was pushing toward the majors by then.

If anything, that run of trades is nearly as impressive as this 13-0 record. And remember, current Blue Jays executive James Click was in Tampa for the first three of these deals. On and off the field, then, the Rays are doing a lot of things right. 

“Really impressive on many fronts,” said GM Ross Atkins. “It’s a great challenge for us.”

Starting this weekend, the Blue Jays have a chance to gain ground on the Rays in the standings. Catching up to their success on the trade market may prove even more difficult.

TIEDEMANN’S DEBUT
Top Blue Jays pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann made his season debut Thursday following some spring shoulder soreness, and it was impressive.

The left-hander allowed two hits over three innings of work while recording all nine of his outs with strikeouts. He touched 99 m.p.h. with his fastball and filled up the zone all night, throwing strikes with 35 of his 49 pitches.  

Best-case scenario, Tiedemann keeps attacking hitters, feeling healthy and working on important details like holding runners (he did allow two steals Thursday). If all of that happens, a 2023 debut seems possible.

For now, though, that’s still many steps away. And while trades will eventually become an option the Blue Jays are sure to explore, that’s not realistic for another couple of months. For the Blue Jays to get the starting pitching they need, internal improvement will have to continue coming from their big-league rotation. 

THE BEST VERSION OF KIERMAIER
The final assessments can come later, but the Blue Jays must be thrilled with the early returns from a veteran outfielder whose left hip didn’t cooperate all of last year. Even at age 32, Kevin Kiermaier’s among the fastest players in the league, with 92nd percentile sprint speed. That's allowed him to perform as one of the best defenders in the league, with an 88th percentile ranking in Outs Above Average.

Ultimately, those aren’t numbers you can fake. 

“It's a ball of energy. He’s on from that from the minute he's steps in here. And he just loves playing,” Schneider said. “It's pretty much the best version of K.K. that we could have hoped for.” 

Now is Kiermaier going to finish the year with an .892 OPS? He’s the first to admit he’s not exactly a power hitter. “Very occasional,” he joked after hitting his first home run. But even assuming his offensive numbers decline from here, the team has reason to be thrilled with the one-year $9 million deal Kiermaier signed this winter.  

As recently as 2021, he was a 3.3 WAR player. The way he’s playing, that level of impact seems attainable once again. 

HOW (NOT) TO PITCH THE JAYS
As the Tigers can now attest after losing two of three at Rogers Centre, falling behind in the count against the Blue Jays is dangerous.
“The strike throwing against this team is important,” said manager A.J. Hinch said. “Because the more leverage you give them, the more trouble you get into.”

Like all teams, the Blue Jays fare better when ahead in the count. But they can do more damage than most, with a .272/.452/.491 batting line once they gain the advantage, reinforcing the importance of strike one.

LOOKING AHEAD
Looking at the Blue Jays' next three opponents, you might think it's October rather than April. It doesn't get much tougher than the Rays, Astros and Yankees, but you have to play the best teams at some point. If the Blue Jays can emerge from this stretch a few games above .500, they’ll be well positioned to gain further ground against weaker teams later in the year.