The Blue Jays and Guardians are in settlement on a four-player commerce sending second baseman Andrés Giménez to Toronto. The Jays get Giménez and reliever Nick Sandlin for infielder Spencer Horwitz and outfield prospect Nick Mitchell. No money is altering palms, so the Jays are absorbing the ultimate 5 years of the Giménez contract.
It’s the primary out of nowhere commerce of the Winter Conferences. Whereas it’s by no means an entire shock to see Cleveland deal a high-priced participant, there hadn’t been a lot to recommend they had been procuring their Gold Glove second baseman. Giménez seemed to be a core piece since he signed one of many largest contracts in franchise historical past simply two seasons again: a seven-year, $106.5MM extension.
As an alternative, the defensive stalwart is on the transfer for the second time in his profession. Giménez started his profession with the Mets, the place his well-rounded profile made him one of many system’s high prospects. Cleveland acquired him alongside Amed Rosario as the important thing items of their return for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco in the course of the 2020-21 offseason.
Giménez struggled throughout his first yr in Cleveland, however he had a breakout exhibiting in 2022. He performed plus protection to win his first Gold Glove. Giménez additionally turned in an impression season on the plate, hitting .297/.371/.466 with 17 homers throughout 557 plate appearances. He was a deserved All-Star and completed sixth in MVP balloting within the American League.
Following that breakout season, the Guardians signed Giménez to the aforementioned extension. It stays the second-largest funding within the group’s historical past, not too far behind the $124MM deal which José Ramírez inked the previous spring. Cleveland absolutely envisioned constructing their long-term infield round that duo.
That’s not fairly how issues performed out, as Giménez’s bat has taken a step backward. The Guardians most likely didn’t count on him to repeat the offensive manufacturing he managed in 2022. He had a lofty .353 common on balls in play that will be exhausting to keep up, nor was he more likely to be hit by as many pitches (an AL-high 25) as he’d been that yr. Giménez’s numbers most likely dropped off extra sharply than Cleveland anticipated, although, as he has been a below-average hitter in consecutive seasons.
In 2023, the lefty-swinging Giménez hit .251/.314/.399 with 15 homers throughout 616 plate appearances. He improved his contact abilities however noticed his stroll fee and energy numbers take a step again. These traits continued this yr. Giménez managed simply 9 homers in 633 journeys to the plate. He stored his strikeout fee to a tidy 15.3% clip however drew walks at a career-low 4.1% mark. He wrapped up the yr with a middling .252/.298/.340 slash — his weakest offensive output over his three full seasons in Cleveland.
Regardless of the regarding offensive traits, Giménez stays a beneficial all-around participant. He has stolen 30 bases in consecutive seasons and is an effective general baserunner. He hasn’t had an injured checklist stint since 2020 and has topped 140 video games in every of the final three seasons. Most importantly, he’s the game’s finest defensive second baseman. Giménez has been named the AL’s Gold Glove winner in three straight years. He has racked up 59 Defensive Runs Saved over that stretch. That’s properly above Marcus Semien’s 37 mark that ranks second on the place. Statcast’s Outs Above Common doesn’t level to fairly as massive a discrepancy (49 to 40), however each metrics contemplate Giménez the sport’s finest keystone defender.
The Jays have poked across the market at second and third base. They’ve a handful of younger gamers who’re able to manning one or each of these positions — Ernie Clement, Will Wagner, Joey Loperfido, Addison Barger, Orelvis Martinez and Leo Jiménez amongst them — however it’s a bunch gentle on MLB expertise. Giménez has a a lot greater flooring within the center infield. He’ll play second base for not less than the upcoming season. That’s most likely his long-term house, although he might be a solution at shortstop if Bo Bichette walks subsequent offseason. Giménez got here up as a shortstop. He hasn’t performed there since 2022, however he’s an athletic sufficient defender that he may most likely deal with the place.
The Jays are taking up a good chunk of cash to make that occur. Giménez is below contract for not less than the following 5 seasons. He’ll make $10MM subsequent yr, $15MM in ’26, and $23MM yearly for the ultimate three assured years. There’s a $23MM membership possibility for the 2030 marketing campaign that comes with a $2.5MM buyout. The deal additionally requires a $1MM project bonus within the occasion of a commerce. Together with that bonus, Giménez is assured $97.5MM for his age 26-30 campaigns. RosterResource calculates the Jays’ projected luxurious tax quantity round $229MM, placing them roughly $12MM beneath subsequent yr’s base threshold.
Toronto additionally deepens a subpar center reduction group with the Sandlin acquisition. The low-slot righty has a strong observe report over 4 years within the massive leagues. Sandlin, who turns 28 subsequent month, carries a 3.27 earned run common throughout 195 1/3 profession innings. Regardless of a pedestrian 92-93 MPH fastball, he has proven the power to overlook bats. Sandlin carries a profession 27.7% strikeout fee, which he basically matched over 57 2/3 frames this previous season.
The Southern Miss product has middling management. Sandlin walked 11% of batters confronted this yr, proper according to his 11.4% general stroll proportion. That’ll most likely hold him within the center innings slightly than leverage work, however Sandlin’s four-pitch combine has helped him keep away from the platoon points that plague many ’pen arms. The Jays are determined for any sort of reliability within the bullpen. Solely the Rockies had a worse reduction group this yr. Toronto subsequently moved on from Jordan Romano, Génesis Cabrera and Dillon Tate. They’re in settlement to deliver Yimi García again on a two-year free agent deal, however they may use as many as 4 or 5 reduction acquisitions this winter.
Sandlin has rather less than 4 years of MLB service. He’s getting into his second of 4 arbitration seasons after qualifying early as a Tremendous Two participant. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives him for a $1.6MM wage subsequent yr. He ought to stay reasonably priced over his three years of membership management.
The most important attraction for Cleveland is offloading the costly portion of Giménez’s contract. Horwitz, 27, gives them with an higher stage depth infielder. The lefty-hitting Horwitz has proven offensive promise each in Triple-A and the large leagues. He turned in a formidable .265/.357/.433 batting line over 381 plate appearances this yr. Horwitz picked up 12 homers and 19 doubles whereas exhibiting glorious strike zone consciousness. He walked at an 11% clip whereas hanging out 18.4% of the time.
Horwitz has a stellar minor league observe report. He’s a profession .316/.433/.471 hitter with practically as many walks as strikeouts in 208 Triple-A video games. He clearly has offensive skill, however he’s but to get a full MLB run due to an absence of defensive worth. Horwitz has been a primary baseman for many of his minor league profession. His 5’10” body and hit-over-power method are uncommon at that place. The Jays used him as a part of their second base combine as properly, however groups don’t appear to view him as an on a regular basis participant there.
The shortage of defensive flexibility made Horwitz a tricky match on a crew with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He’s equally squeezed in Cleveland. Josh Naylor can be the primary baseman if he’s not traded. Kyle Manzardo may take over even when the Guardians transfer Naylor. Horwitz nonetheless has a minor league possibility, so he may return to Triple-A, however he has nothing left to show there offensively. It’d be a shock if a Cleveland crew that emphasizes infield protection is prepared to make use of him as their common second baseman. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet tweets that Horwitz would possibly find yourself being flipped to a 3rd crew.
In any case, the Guardians might want to discover a new second baseman. Juan Brito is on the 40-man roster and hit .256/.365/.443 throughout his age-22 season in Triple-A. He’s a possible common, although there’d be danger for Cleveland in counting on a participant who has but to make his MLB debut. The Guards may pursue a stopgap by way of free company or commerce in the event that they need to add some stability coming off a division title. Over the long term, the transfer opens second base for this yr’s first general choose Travis Bazzana. The Oregon State product profiles as a quick-moving second baseman who may get to the majors by the tip of subsequent season if all goes properly.
Mitchell, a 21-year-old outfielder, rounds out the return. Toronto simply drafted the Indiana product within the fourth spherical. A left-handed batter, Mitchell hit .289/.350/.467 in 22 video games as a school draftee in Low-A. Baseball America wrote in its draft report that Mitchell had good contact abilities and above-average velocity that gave him a shot to stay in middle discipline. He most likely initiatives as a fourth or fifth outfielder.
Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the Jays and Guardians had been finalizing a Giménez deal. Kiley McDaniel of ESPN was first with Horwitz’s inclusion. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic had Sandlin going to the Jays, whereas Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet was first to report the total commerce and the absence of money concerns.
Pictures courtesy of USA Immediately Sports activities.