Blue Jays Deal Randal Grichuk to Colorado for Lefty Raimel Tapia

Two weeks away from Opening Day and just two days removed from extending Matt Chapman, the Blue Jays have continued their offseason shakeup.

Two weeks away from Opening Day and just two days removed from extending recent trade acquisition Matt Chapman, the Toronto Blue Jays have continued their offseason shakeup. On Thursday afternoon, the club announced that it had dealt outfielder Randal Grichuk and cash considerations to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for outfielder Raimel Tapia and minor-league infielder Adrian Pinto.

On paper, the trade would appear as a way of dropping a heavy contract for a younger player set to make just 40 percent the salary this coming season. But for the batting order and lineup, adding a left-handed outfield bat will provide the Blue Jays with an added luxury in the uber-competitive American League East.

Grichuk’s bat and fielding will be tough to replace, but a crowded outfield led general manager Ross Atkins to pull the trigger on a deal that will see 28-year-old Tapia likely serve in a bench role with the Jays.

Grichuk, 30, began his eight-year career in St. Louis with the Cardinals in 2014, before joining the Jays in 2018. He signed a five-year, $52 million contract with Toronto, featuring an annual average salary of $10.4 million through the 2023 season. Tapia is on a one-year deal worth $3.95 million after taking home $1.95 million last season.

Undoubtedly, Grichuk has been the more productive big-hit player, smacking 22 home runs and 81 RBIs last season alone, but his batting average has been slightly disappointing throughout his time in Toronto. In 479 total games in blue and white, the Texas product hit 90 home runs and 257 RBIs with a sub .250 batting average.

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Heading to Toronto is six-year pro Raimel Tapia, who batted .273 with six homers and 50 RBIs with Colorado last season. With the Rockies, Tapia has .280 career average with 45 stolen bases and 71 doubles to his name. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound left fielder also began his career at the age of 22. Opposite of Grichuk, Tapia is not one to rack up strikeouts, having been retired just 70 times last season in 487 at bats (14 percent strikeout rate). Over his time with the Blue Jays, Grichuk has averaged a strikeout in 26 percent of his plate appearances.

Tapia will bring speed to the Jays’ batting order, despite sacrificing some of Grichuk’s power. Tapia’s contact rate is much higher than Grichuk’s, while his left-handed bat is expected to serve as a single/double machine. Not one to regularly hit the long ball, Tapia will likely rotate into Toronto’s starting centerfield position on days George Springer serves as the team’s designated hitter, while slotting in in left during maintenance days for Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

A notable base-running threat (20 stolen bases in 2021), the Jays’ recent acquisition may also come off the bench as a pinch-runner late in games as different scenarios play out in front of clubhouse manager Charlie Montoyo. Pinch hitting may also be a regular role for Tapia, whose left-handed bat could help the team escape the threat of a double play late in games to which the club is trailing.

Pinto, 19, very well may be the most significant piece in the deal. The young second-baseman spent 2021 in the Dominican Summer League, hitting .360 with three home runs in 224 plate appearances. Only listed at 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds, the pint-sized Pinto also has blazing speed, to which he accumulated 41 stolen bases, while only striking out in eight percent of his at bats.

The Jays now boast the following expected batting order:

1. Springer CF
2. Bichette SS
3. Guerrero Jr. 1B
4. Hernández DH
5. Gurriel Jr. RF
6. Chapman 3B
7. Biggio/Espinal 2B
8. Tapia LF
9. Jansen/Kirk C