6:23pm: It’s a two-for-two swap, stories Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet (X hyperlink). Toronto receives Giménez and Sandlin for Horwitz and prospect Nick Mitchell. There aren’t any money issues, which means the Jays are absorbing all the contract.
5:44pm: Reliever Nick Sandlin can be headed to Toronto, stories Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic (on X).
5:37pm: Infielder Spencer Horwitz is among the many gamers heading again to Cleveland, stories Kiley McDaniel of ESPN (X hyperlink).
5:08pm: The Blue Jays and Guardians are finalizing a commerce that might ship second baseman Andrés Giménez to Toronto, stories ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet tweets that there’s an settlement in place on a Giménez deal.
It’s the primary out of nowhere commerce of the Winter Conferences. Whereas it’s by no means a whole shock to see Cleveland deal a high-priced participant, there hadn’t been a lot to counsel they have 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 in Spring Coaching 2023.
As a substitute, 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 prime 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 of three straight Gold Glove awards at second base. Giménez additionally turned in an influence 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 in all probability 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 might be exhausting to keep up, nor was he prone to be hit by as many pitches (an AL-high 25) as he’d been that yr. Giménez’s numbers in all probability 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 expertise 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 invaluable all-around participant. He has stolen 30 bases in consecutive seasons and is an efficient total baserunner. He hasn’t had an injured listing stint since 2020 and has topped 140 video games in every of the final three seasons. Most importantly, he’s the game’s greatest 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 nicely above Marcus Semien’s 37 mark that ranks second on the place. Statcast’s Outs Above Common doesn’t paint to fairly as large a discrepancy (49 to 40), however each metrics take into account Giménez the sport’s greatest keystone defender.
The Jays have poked across the market at each 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 mild on MLB expertise. Giménez has a a lot larger flooring within the center infield. He’ll play second base for not less than the upcoming season. That’s in all probability his long-term dwelling, 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 might in all probability deal with the place if requested.
The Jays are taking up an honest chunk of cash to make that occur. Giménez is beneath 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 choice 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. It’s not clear if Toronto is taking up that complete deal.
Toronto additionally deepens a subpar center reduction group with the Sandlin acquisition. The low-slot righty has a stable monitor file over 4 years within the large 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% total stroll proportion. That’ll in all probability hold him within the center innings reasonably 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 might use as many as 4 or 5 reduction acquisitions this winter.
Sandlin has rather less than 4 years of MLB service. He’s coming 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 inexpensive over his three remaining years of membership management.
The most important enchantment for Cleveland is offloading the costly portion of Giménez’s contract. Horwitz, 27, offers 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 powerful .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 putting out 18.4% of the time.
Horwitz has a stellar minor league monitor file. 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 capability, however he’s but to get a full MLB run due to a scarcity 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 Horwitz as a part of their second base combine as nicely, however groups don’t appear to view him as an on a regular basis participant there.
The dearth of defensive flexibility made Horwitz a troublesome match on a group with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He’s equally squeezed in Cleveland. Josh Naylor can be the primary baseman if he’s not traded. Kyle Manzardo might take over even when the Guardians transfer Naylor. Horwitz nonetheless has a minor league choice, so he might return to Triple-A, however he has nothing left to show there offensively. It’d be a shock if a Cleveland group that emphasizes infield protection is keen to make use of him as their common second baseman. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet tweets that Horwitz may find yourself being flipped to a 3rd group.
Extra to return…
