How did we get these guys anyways?

Monday, April 25 2022 @ 01:03 PM EDT

Contributed by: John Northey

In a recent thread I dug into the fun way Collins (and Hernandez) ended up here - started with a 15th round pick in 2009. But what about the rest of the roster? We always talk about how important the draft is but how did we get this lineup?

International Free Agents: Vlad (signed 2015), Kirk (2016), Gurriel (2016)
Draft: Jansen (16th, 2013), Biggio (5th 2016), Bo (2nd 2016), Saucedo (21st 2015), Mayza (12th 2013), Manoah (1st 2019, 11th overall), Borucki (15th 2012)
Free Agent: Springer (QO compensation), Ryu, Gausman, Kikucki, Garcia, Katoh, Heineman, Phelps,
Trades: Berrios (Austin Martin & Simeon Woods Richardson - both still in minors), Hernandez (Francisco Liriano), Chapman (Gunnar Hoglund, Zach Logue, Kevin Smith, Kirby Snead - only Hoglund hasn't reached the majors yet), Espinal (Steve Pearce), Collins (Reese McGuire), Stripling (Kendall Williams & Ryan Noda - neither has reached the majors yet), Cimber (Andrew McInvale & Joe Panik), Richards (Rowdy Tellez), Zimmer (Anthony Castro), Tapia (Randal Grichuk and cash), Thornton (Aledmys Díaz), Merryweather (Josh Donaldson and cash), Kay (Marcus Stroman and cash)
Rule 5 returned: Romano (phew - was a 10th round pick in 2014)

So the IFA are probably the biggest value for the dollar thanks to Vlad, and to a lesser degree Gurriel. Funny that only 1 first round pick of the Jays is in the majors with them right now (Manoah) vs, say, 10 years ago (2012: Ricky Romero, Chad Jenkins, Brett Cecil, Travis Snider, David Cooper, and J.P. Arencibia). Ah the great hopes we had for some of those guys. Our current GM though is ruthless when trading first round picks - he has zero attachment issues it seems (see recent 1st rounders Martin, and Hoglund).

Free agency has been important, but only once have the Jays lost a draft pick due to signing a free agent. Ryu & Gausman were saddled with QO's earlier but took it then went back to free agency the next year without it. The rest just weren't good enough to be given a QO.

I listed what each player cost in trades, but didn't list who else came with them in each case. For example, Teoscar came here with Nori Aoki. But even straight up in each case I'd have trouble with reversing any of those deals. Austin Martin is back in AA (736 OPS), same for SWR (0 ERA in 16 2/3 IP 4 BB 14 K - if he keeps that up he'll be up before we know it). Kendall Williams & Ryan Noda both look like they could be good for the Dodgers but we will see in a few years on that one, but right now Stripling is important to the Jays hopes thanks to Ryu & Pearson being hurt.

Our top prospect with no doubt is Gabriel Moreno (IFA) with Orelvis Martinez seen as climbing fast (also an IFA). Jordan Groshans is often listed as a top prospect (1st round in 2018, 12th overall), as is Nate Pearson (1st round 2017, 28th overall). That's all the guys on the top 100 lists right now. It'll be interesting to see if any of those guys make an impact this year, but all could in 2023 easily. The low number of first round draft picks on the current roster is more a function of the Jays willingness to make trades than anything else imo. Looking at those trades I'd say the Jays should keep doing that - no obvious losses right now, a couple could go sideways but not yet.

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