Toronto Blue Jays Part 3: Donaldson Trade to the Cardinals
In Part III we look at potential trade partner for the Toronto Blue Jays to trade Josh Donaldson. Looking at Part I we can see what pitchers that the Blue Jays covet. We also know the type of hitters that will succeed at the Rogers Centre. One trade partner that has continually surfaced is the St. Louis Cardinals. They have a premium crop of pitchers and some bats that would interest the Blue Jays. Lets take a look at a few players that would be included in a package.
Dakota Hudson
At first glance Hudson would fit any big trade package. He is 6-5 215 LBS and a former 1st round pick out of the SEC. In 2017 Hudson pitched well at a home run hitters ballpark. He had a 57.6% GB rate at AA in 114 IP and AAA in 39 IP. He has a 94-95 FB and an upper 80s SL. Hudson was the hardest on RHH as they only hit .220, which shows well for the Rogers Centre. LHH were able to get to Hudson with a .290 Avg and 24 XBH compared to 14 from RHH. The only other issue for Hudson is his low strikeout rate. This may be from his lack of FB control and him building a third pitch in the CB. Overall, Hudson offers a great RHP that can offer innings and a high GB%. He can also attack RHH and take advantage of the lack of hits that the Rogers Centre produces.
Jake Woodford
This 21 year old is another first rounder that is 6-4 210 LBS. He doesn’t have the same GB%, but he produces enough sink on his FB when he wants that we could see an increase with a coaching emphasis on it. The last two seasons in the minors he has produced 44-45% GB rate, which is the league Avg. Woodford has a CH and SL that need development and has a FB anywhere from 91-96. He is also known for great control and looks to add velocity onto his large frame. With 100+ innings the last two season you can see a pitcher who can handle a full season of pro ball. If the Blue Jays added Woodford it would be in the hopes that they could get him more sink on the FB.
Connor Jones
Once more we see a highly drafted player, 2nd round, that has a large frame, 6-3 200 LBS. Jones pitched at Virginia and sits 92-96 with his FB. In 113.1 innings Jones had a 68.4 GB%. Just like the other two pitchers mentioned, Jones has a low strikeout rate. He also has a lack of control that leads to a high BB%. Jones could be a back of the rotation pitcher that lives off his home games and produces enough to win at Rogers Centre. He doesn’t have the same ceiling and Woodford or Hudson but he could be a bullpen arm at the very least.
Tyler O’ Neil
When I think of O’Neil the likes of Encarnacion and Bautista come to mind. Since he has joined the Cardinals in the 2017 season he has produced a pull% over 50. This is where Encarnacion and Bautista sat during their hay days with the Blue Jays. The Rogers Centre is a home run ballpark and O’Neil would easily have 30+. He will be a .250+ hitter that tends to strikeout a lot. This is something that the Blue Jays are all too familiar with. O’Neil would be a huge snag to replace Donaldson home runs. He can also fit into RF with Pillar and soon to be Anthony Alford. O’Neil is off to a crazy start and will push the Cardinals for playing time soon.
Adolis Garcia
Garcia produced a 15-15 season in 124 games. He has already reached AAA and joins O’Neil and Arozarena in the OF. In 2017 he produced close to a 50% pull rate. This is yet another player that would fit the Bautista/Encarnacion mold. This could easily go up as he learns to elevate the ball. Garcia possesses one of the strongest arms in the minors and could be a 20-20 player. Garcia is also from Cuba and has a similar skill set as Randy Arozarena.
Randy Arozarena
The Cuban signee has strong pull side power and pulls the ball 50% of the time. He has the potential to be a 20-20 player as he hits a lot of 2Bs that could turn into home runs when he gets to the majors. He looks to play LF and could also handle CF if need be. Arozarena would give the Blue Jays a major league player that could hit at the top of the order.
Projected Trade: Josh Donaldson for Dakota Hudson, Tyler O’Neil and Connor Jones
This trade would provide the Cardinals with the 2-hole hitter that could provide 30+ home runs along with Marcel Ozuna. Donaldson would also stabilize the infield and allow Carpenter to stay at 2B. Donaldson is a career .290 hitter in the 2-hole and would give the Cardinals a chance to audition for a re-signing.
The Blue Jays would be able to acquire a bat that could replace the home runs that Donaldson took with him. They would also get two potential starters in Hudson and Jones. They lose Estrada and Happ after this season so they could have two options for 2019. We provided 6 options above and I think it would take a combination of the three to get a deal done. Tyler O’Neil would be the centerpiece and would be traded for the second time in his short career.