The Toronto Blue Jays added some much needed pitching depth on Friday, acquiring three arms from the Houston Astros in a 10-player trade.
Coming to Toronto are left-handed starter/reliever J.A. Happ, right-handed reliever Brandon Lyon and right-handed reliever David Carpenter.
Heading to Houston are outfielder Ben Francisco, right-handed reliever Francisco Cordero, minor-league right-hander Asher Wojciechowski, minor league left-hander Joe Musgrave, minor-league left-hander David Rollins, minor league catcher Carlos Perez and a player to be named later.
Also on Friday, the Blue Jays recalled outfielder Travis Snider from the triple-A Las Vegas 51s.
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said that although he gave up a significant number of players in the deal, the price was right given it did not include some of the organization’s top-rated prospects.
“I know there’s a lot of players involved in this deal,” he said during a Friday conference call. “I think it looks like a greater deal because of the quantity of players, but at the end of the day we gave up some guys in a-ball we think have the chance to be alright and we got some much needed depth for us that can help for the current year and moving forward.
“There’s a fairly significant gap for us between some of our higher end prospects at low-a and obviously the guys that are up here right now. Our depth has really been attacked.”
Later in the call, Anthopoulos added:
“I want to be fair to the players (traded away),” he said. “We think they have the chance to be solid and again, I don’t think I’m saying anything crazy by acknowledging that these are not our top prospects and I don’t think anyone would expect us to include those guys.
“We all have our evaluations on them, we like them all to varying degrees but I don’t want to disparage any of them. They’re all solid players and there’s still an element of risk because they still have a lot of ladders to climb before they get to the big leagues.”
In recent weeks the Blue Jays have lost three starters (Kyle Drabek, Brandon Morrow and Drew Hutchison) plus reliever Luis Perez to long-term injuries.
As for the pitchers acquired on Friday, Anthopoulos said Happ and Lyon will report to Toronto on Saturday and will pitch out of the bullpen while Carpenter will report to triple-A Las Vegas. Happ, who has started in 90 of his 106 career MLB apperances, may not stay in the bullpen for long.
“It’s really start-to-start with a lot of these guys,” Anthopoulos said of his big-league rotation. “It doesn’t mean he’ll be in the bullpen for a long time. I told Jay (Happ) that the opportunity could present itself at any time. We’re going to go with the hot hand like we’ve done in the bullpen.”
Happ, 29, has posted a 4.83 ERA, 1.447 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 18 starts in 2012. In six big leagues seasons between Philadelphia and Houston the 2004 thrid round pick has a career ERA of 4.83 and 1.395 WHIP. The 27-year-old Carpenter has racked up 27 strikeouts in 29.2 innings in 2012 with a 6.07 ERA and 1.921 WHIP.
“I guy like David Carpenter is someone we liked last year,” said Anthopoulos. “He’s a guy with pretty good arm strength. Again, he’s got some upside, ability to control him, options. We’re always looking to get some young relievers with options.”
Lyon — a Blue Jay from 2001-’02 — has posted a 3.25 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in 36 innings this season and is scheduled to become a free agent this winter. He’ll provide Toronto an immediate upgrade in the bullpen over the departing Cordero, but his long-term future with the club is uncertain
Happ and Carpenter however, are under team control until 2015 and 2018 respectively.
Snider will report to the Blue Jays in time for Friday’s game against the Boston Red Sox and will get the majority of starts in left field with Rajai Davis reverting back to a part-time role.
“Travis will get a good amount of at-bats,” said Anthopoulos. “When Jose Bautista comes back off the DL we would then make a decision between Anthony Gose and Travis with respect to who would stay, depending on who’s playing the best between the two of them.”
The 24-year-old Snider had gone 5-for-6 with three home runs over his past two games before being pulled from Thursday night’s game after his first at-bat.
Anthopoulos said he has been encouraged by Snider’s play of late, particularly his power to the opposite field.
The Blue Jays are taking some $700,000 in additional salaries in the deal. Anthopoulos added the two sides have until the end of August to decide upon the player to be named later.
Carpenter: young, seasoned, plus arm, controllable. J.A. Happ is a solid, 4 ERA starter that can pitch here now. Lyon is, uh, a filler… — Dirk Hayhurst (@TheGarfoose) July 20, 2012
Carpenter: young, seasoned, plus arm, controllable. J.A. Happ is a solid, 4 ERA starter that can pitch here now. Lyon is, uh, a filler…
— Dirk Hayhurst (@TheGarfoose) July 20, 2012
David Carpenter has command issues, but swing and miss stuff. 252 strikeouts in 241 professional IP. #bluejays #astros — Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 20, 2012
David Carpenter has command issues, but swing and miss stuff. 252 strikeouts in 241 professional IP. #bluejays #astros
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 20, 2012
Carpenter may be key to 10-player deal for #BlueJays. Late-inning potential, 5 more yrs. of control. Lyon potential FA. Happ 2 more yrs arb. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 20, 2012
Carpenter may be key to 10-player deal for #BlueJays. Late-inning potential, 5 more yrs. of control. Lyon potential FA. Happ 2 more yrs arb.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 20, 2012
More to come…
Keep it here throughout the day for updates and news from Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and Barry Davis with the Blue Jays in Boston.