What Blue Jays’ acquisition of Vogelbach means for lineup, Tellez, potential

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays’ first trade of the 2020 period didn’t tackle their greatest will need or even land an individual participating in all that properly.

But in getting Daniel Vogelbach from the Seattle Mariners, they included a 2019 all-star with a historical past of hitting proper-handed pitchers. If he can bounce back to his vocation norms, that’s a valuable bat for manager Charlie Montoyo to deploy late in video games. If not, perfectly, the charge listed here was slight with dollars issues heading back to Seattle but no prospective buyers.

Irrespective, there is more work ahead for the Toronto entrance office environment. Not only are two rotation places unaccounted for next injuries to Matt Shoemaker and Trent Thornton, there is area for additional improvement on the bench, as well.

For now, there is Vogelbach, a second-round pick of the Cubs in 2011 who was traded to Seattle in a deadline offer a handful of months right before Chicago received the 2016 Entire world Series. He broke out with 30 property operates in an all-star 2019 year, largely mainly because of his skill to destroy proper-handed pitching. The remaining-handed hitter posted an .844 OPS from righties past year to go along with 25 residence runs and an impressive 17.5-per cent walk charge. At that position, he appeared like a useful hitter whose electrical power and plate self-control would make up for his perpetually low batting averages.

But right after a gradual start to the 2020 season in which Vogelbach posted a .476 OPS with just two property operates as a result of 18 game titles, the Mariners selected him for assignment. After all, at 6 ft, 270 lbs . Vogelbach is greatest applied as a selected hitter. If he’s not hitting, he’s frequently not supporting considerably on defence or on the bases.

Evidently, there are limits to what Vogelbach features — he should not deal with many lefties — but there are also very clear video game scenarios where by he’s valuable. With a life span .777 OPS against right-handed pitching, there’s some explanation to imagine he can bounce back again from his slow start off as soon as he completes the COVID-19 ingestion course of action and joins the Blue Jays, very likely later this week. If that happens, the Blue Jays will profit from a effective remaining-handed bat who performs a challenging at-bat.

At first look, Vogelbach would seem considerably redundant on a roster that now consists of Rowdy Tellez and definitely there are similarities in ability-established between the two strong, remaining-handed sluggers. But there are also situations in which both equally gamers can assist Montoyo in the similar video game.

Late in games that Tellez starts off, a bat like Vogelbach will give Montoyo additional pinch-hit solutions than normal. For example, Vogelbach would be handy if a suitable-handed pitcher’s on the mound and a hitter this sort of as Santiago Espinal, Joe Panik or Brandon Drury is at the plate. It’s even feasible that Montoyo will get started both of those Tellez and Vogelbach if the matchup’s ideal.

“There’s a chance they both equally could be in the lineup,” Montoyo claimed. “We’re just seeking for a further bat to impression the lineup. It’s obtained nothing at all to do with Rowdy, it’s additional about obtaining an additional bat into the lineup.”

And definitely, why quit now? The addition of Vogelbach will likely be the initial of a number of trades the Blue Jays make this month, even though they could go in a couple of directions with their up coming transfer. Anthony Alford, who was specified for assignment final 7 days, could close up in a trade of his personal if rival groups want to soar the queue on the waiver procedure the way the Blue Jays did with Vogelbach.

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Moreover, there is an evident require for pitching and home for further more upgrades on the bench. Ideally, the Blue Jays could incorporate a starter like Kevin Gausman or Dylan Bundy without having surrendering far too a great deal prospect money, but they’ll have competitors at a time that the likes of the Braves, Astros and Yankees could use rotation support, also.

Alongside that research for pitching, the Blue Jays could also examine specials for a right-handed hitting place participant. An acquisition like that would basically supply an upgrade in excess of Drury, who has a .400 OPS and can be freely optioned to the minors. Possibly Jonathan Schoop of the Tigers or Jedd Gyorko of the Brewers would be of interest. A left-handed hitter like Tommy La Stella of the Angels would be an up grade, as well.

Plainly, it’s not the Blue Jays’ major require correct now. With Shoemaker sidelined for weeks and Thornton back again on the hurt list, the pitching staff demands aid most urgently. At the identical time, a run scored is as good as a operate saved, so with a 7 days to go before the deadline, the Blue Jays are fascinated in hitters, as well.

“We’re looking at all selections,” Montoyo reported. “The key deal proper now is our pitching. We lost two starters in a single day, so it is making an attempt to see what we’re heading to do with that. But we’re on the lookout at all selections, that is for certain.”