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  • José Berríos Traded to Blue Jays

    Matthew Taylor

    By Matthew Taylor

    Multiple reports have confirmed that José Berríos has been traded to the Blue Jays in exchange for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson.

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    Jose Berrios has been traded. There have been rumors and now there are confirmations. Jose Berrios will be joining the Toronto Blue Jays as they head back to Canada to play for the first time in a long time. No doubt Berrios will be missed. He is a leader, a two-time All Star, and competitor. 

    In return, the Twins received highly-touted prospects, SS Austin Martin and RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson.

    Martin was the #5 overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Vanderbilt. Martin is a consensus Top 25 overall prospect in baseball. He should soon join the Wichita Wind Surge. He is ranked #21 by Baseball America and #16 by MLB Pipeline. 

    Martin made his professional debut this year, and he has played in 55 games for Double-A New Hampshire. He has hit .281/.424/.383 (.807) with ten doubles, two triples and two home runs. He also has nine stolen bases. 

    Woods-Richardson was traded two years ago from the Mets to the Blue Jays in the Marcus Stroman deal. The hard-thrower is currently in Tokyo with fellow newly-acquired Twins prospect Joe Ryan at the Olympics. He is ranked #68 by MLB Pipeline. 

    He was the Mets second-round pick in 2018 out of high school in Texas. The 20-year-old is also at Double-A New Hampshire. He is 2-4 with a 5.76 ERA in 11 starts. Over 11 starts and 45 1/3 innings, he has walked too many (26) and struck out a ton (67, 13.3 K/9). 

    On MLB Network, former GM Dan O'Dowd said, "In surplus value, the Twins won this deal. In present value, the Blue Jays get what they need." 

    Once the Washington Nationals traded Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers on Thursday night, Berrios became the best pitcher on the trade market, and the Twins took advantage. 

    The Blue Jays are working to stay in playoff contention in a division currently led by the Red Sox and Rays. They are also trying to keep up with the Yankees who have added sluggers Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo the past two days. A two-time All Star, Berrios will certainly help Toronto down the stretch and, the reason they got such a big return, will help them in 2022 as well. 

    Are the Twins done??? Don't count on it! 

     

    Story will be updated as we learn more information. You can also add to the story in the comments below.

    Matthew Taylor has been a writer with Twins Daily since 2020. If you can't find him at Target Field you'll most likely find him at the movie theater.
    Follow Matthew Taylor on Twitter: MatthewTaylorMN

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    Featured Comments

    Cap'n Piranha

    Cap'n Piranha 5,641

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I'm a little less excited about this than the rest of the board seems to be.  SWR seems ok--he's 20, at AA, and his FIP and xFIP are pretty good, so I'm optimistic there, but I'm worried about Martin.  He's 22 at AA, so he's not particularly young for a to prospect at AA, and while I love his .424 OBP, I'm worried about his sub-.400 SLG, and .281 BA.  Sounds less like a hitter, and more like a guy with a really great eye and approach.  Fangraphs puts him at 35 currently, with a 60 future grade on the hit tool, and 35 current 50 future on game power.  If that develops then yes you have something here, but he turns 23 before the 2022 season starts--if he doesn't break out next year, I don't know what happens to his value.

    I'm hoping there's maybe one more guy included here, otherwise it feels to me like maybe the offers weren't as robust as it sounded yesterday.

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    Just now, Cap'n Piranha said:

    I'm a little less excited about this than the rest of the board seems to be.  SWR seems ok--he's 20, at AA, and his FIP and xFIP are pretty good, so I'm optimistic there, but I'm worried about Martin.  He's 22 at AA, so he's not particularly young for a to prospect at AA, and while I love his .424 OBP, I'm worried about his sub-.400 SLG, and .281 BA.  Sounds less like a hitter, and more like a guy with a really great eye and approach.  Fangraphs puts him at 35 currently, with a 60 future grade on the hit tool, and 35 current 50 future on game power.  If that develops then yes you have something here, but he turns 23 before the 2022 season starts--if he doesn't break out next year, I don't know what happens to his value.

    I'm hoping there's maybe one more guy included here, otherwise it feels to me like maybe the offers weren't as robust as it sounded yesterday.

    Given FG and mlb.com have Martin in their top 25 overall, I think you are low on him. This is his first year in professional baseball, and he's hitting well (not great) in AA, and playing both SS and CF.......

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    nicksaviking

    nicksaviking 26,755

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

    I'm glad the everyone is pretty stoked about Martin, seems like he's a pretty consensus top player. Going straight from college to AA isn't exactly a Twins move. We sure he's not going to be sent back to rookie ball? :)

    Is he going to develop any power though? He didn't hit too many out of the park in college either.

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    Cap'n Piranha

    Cap'n Piranha 5,641

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

    Given FG and mlb.com have Martin in their top 25 overall, I think you are low on him. This is his first year in professional baseball, and he's hitting well (not great) in AA, and playing both SS and CF.......

    I probably am, mostly because I tend to focus on stats, rather than projection.  I will completely admit that I am potentially undervaluing both of these guys based on that.  I'll also call out that I was hoping the Dodgers move last night would force the Padres to a more desperate place, and let us get either Abrams or Hassell.  Hassell is 3 years younger, and putting up better numbers at A than Martin is at AA.  FG also rates him higher on speed, which makes him more likely to be able to play some center, I woudl think.  Abrams is 20, at AA, and putting up fairly comparable numbers to Martnin (although since his wRC+ is lower, I assume that means Abrams plays in a more hitter-friendly league).  Abrams grades out higher on every tool than Martin, particularly speed, so he would be an almost for sure SS/CF for years to come.

    Now, Abrams may have been a pipe dream, but I thought a desperate Preller would maybe feel obligated to do whatever it took to get Berrios, and we could pry him away.

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    Just now, Cap'n Piranha said:

    I probably am, mostly because I tend to focus on stats, rather than projection.  I will completely admit that I am potentially undervaluing both of these guys based on that.  I'll also call out that I was hoping the Dodgers move last night would force the Padres to a more desperate place, and let us get either Abrams or Hassell.  Hassell is 3 years younger, and putting up better numbers at A than Martin is at AA.  FG also rates him higher on speed, which makes him more likely to be able to play some center, I woudl think.  Abrams is 20, at AA, and putting up fairly comparable numbers to Martnin (although since his wRC+ is lower, I assume that means Abrams plays in a more hitter-friendly league).  Abrams grades out higher on every tool than Martin, particularly speed, so he would be an almost for sure SS/CF for years to come.

    Now, Abrams may have been a pipe dream, but I thought a desperate Preller would maybe feel obligated to do whatever it took to get Berrios, and we could pry him away.

    I would have loved Abrams for sure......I just didn't think he was available. Also, the Pads have no SP I know I want....

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    chpettit19

    chpettit19 8,662

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

    6 minutes ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

    I'm a little less excited about this than the rest of the board seems to be.  SWR seems ok--he's 20, at AA, and his FIP and xFIP are pretty good, so I'm optimistic there, but I'm worried about Martin.  He's 22 at AA, so he's not particularly young for a to prospect at AA, and while I love his .424 OBP, I'm worried about his sub-.400 SLG, and .281 BA.  Sounds less like a hitter, and more like a guy with a really great eye and approach.  Fangraphs puts him at 35 currently, with a 60 future grade on the hit tool, and 35 current 50 future on game power.  If that develops then yes you have something here, but he turns 23 before the 2022 season starts--if he doesn't break out next year, I don't know what happens to his value.

    I'm hoping there's maybe one more guy included here, otherwise it feels to me like maybe the offers weren't as robust as it sounded yesterday.

    Martin was drafted #5 overall last year. He's started his professional career at AA and is more than holding his own. Most prospect sites have his ETA as next year. The only real question anyone has had about his bat is if he'll hit 10-15 HRs or 20-25. Probably a Lewis type defender who is borderline at SS, but can go to CF, 2B, 3B or almost anywhere else easily. He's a huge get.

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    LewFordLives

    LewFordLives 830

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    14 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

    Martin is a top 20 prospect in all of baseball....

    But they really really need pitching. Woods-Richardson is a work in progress. If they were going to trade Berrios to the Jays, I would have preferred Pearson and a couple lesser prospects.

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

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    • Posted

    Just now, LewFordLives said:

    But they really really need pitching. Woods-Richardson is a work in progress. If they were going to trade Berrios to the Jays, I would have preferred Pearson and a couple lesser prospects.

    Fair, but that post I responded to said Martin would never do anything in the majors pretty much......We all have our preferences, but really?

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    prouster

    prouster 1,799

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I like the trade. I’m grateful for the years that Berrios gave the Twins, and I wish him luck in Toronto. Woods-Richardson seems like he could become something like Berrios if he develops well. It’s impressive that he’s already at AA at such a young age. Martin is a terrific get. I wouldn’t worry about his position. He can play all over the diamond. Fangraphs gives him a Zobrist comp in their write up of him. Great trade. 

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    dbminn

    dbminn 1,849

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    • Posted

    5 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

    Martin
    Woods-Richardson
    Lewis
    Balazovic
    Maybe Ryan here? Windor? I like Miranda a lot but not sure he's #5 yet.

    No real disagreement, just my opinion... Martin #1, but I still like Balazovic as #2. Miranda is #5 for me - he's absolutely demolished high-minor pitching for months.

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    Vanimal46

    Vanimal46 28,724

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

    I think this is 100% unfair in this deal. Berrios was clear he was going to FA next year. They got a top 20 prospect, and a top 50-60 prospect, both in AA. I get being cynical, but this is not a good take, imo. 

    Agreed, not my best take. I’m pretty bummed to lose the only homegrown pitching talent we’ve developed in the last decade. 

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    chpettit19

    chpettit19 8,662

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

    4 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

    But they really really need pitching. Woods-Richardson is a work in progress. If they were going to trade Berrios to the Jays, I would have preferred Pearson and a couple lesser prospects.

    They also really really need up the middle prospects. Unless you're convinced Lewis is the SS of the future, Austin Martin is a great get to boost the chance they have their future SS in house now and ready to debut next year sometime.

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