Blue Jays add Gimenez from Guardians, bring back Garcia

Article content

The Toronto Blue Jays are doubling down on defence.

Article content

Article content

Recommended Videos

Article content

Days after missing out on premier free-agent slugger Juan Soto, the Blue Jays are reportedly finalizing a deal with the Cleveland Guardians to acquire sure-handed second baseman Andres Gimenez, according to ESPN insider Jeff Passan.

Article content

Article content

The deal, once completed, will send the three-time Gold Glover to a team coming off a second straight AL Team Gold Glove Award. Going the other way are infielder Spencer Horwitz and minor-league outfielder Nick Mitchell, while the Blue Jays will also be acquiring right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported.

Article content

Gimenez, 26, a left-handed hitter who was once a top prospect in the New York Mets system, is coming off a season in which he batted .252 with nine home runs, 63 RBIs and 30 steals with an 82 OPS+ (100 is league average) for the Guardians.

He was an all-star in 2022 after being a part of the Francisco Lindor deal, batting .297 with 17 home runs, 69 RBIs and 20 steals with an OPS+ of 141.

Sandlin, who turns 28 next month, was 8-0 with one save last season while primarily pitching out of the Guardians bullpen. He also had 68 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings to go with a 3.75 ERA and 1.27 WHIP.

Article content

The lefty Horwitz, 27, meanwhile, was a steady offensive contributor after being called up by the Blue Jays in early June. A 24th-round pick in the 2019 draft, he finished the season with a .265 batting average with 12 home runs, 40 RBIs and a 125 OPS+ while playing first and second base.

Mitchell, a 21-year-old left-handed hitter, was drafted in the fourth round of this year’s draft by Toronto out of Indiana University Bloomington and played 22 games for the single-A Dunedin Blue Jays.

Article content

GARCIA BACK ON 2-YEAR DEAL

News of the trade came a few hours after the Blue Jays reportedly brought back reliever Yimi Garcia on a $15-million, two-year deal, according to Ari Alexander of ABC affiliate KPRC 2 Houston.

The 34-year-old righty began the 2024 season in Toronto, including time as the closer, before the Blue Jays shipped him to the Seattle Mariners ahead of the trade deadline. Garcia finished his 10th MLB campaign — including two other seasons with Toronto — with a 3-0 record and five saves to go along with a 3.46 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in 39 innings before ending the season on the injured list with elbow inflammation.

His deal includes a $2-million signing bonus and up to $1 million in performance bonuses based on innings pitched, Alexander reported.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

Article content