Randal Grichuk has been traded to the Colorado Rockies along with cash for Raimel Tapia and minor league infielder Adrian Pinto. Grichuk has been a primary outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays since 2018. Coming over in a trade from the St.Louis Cardinals, the Blue Jays were looking for a player to cover the outfield after trading away some core players from the years previous. He continued his success and become a reliable player for the Blue Jays.
Grichuk Traded to Rockies
The shortened 2020 season saw his best baseball yet. He had a batting average of .273 with an OBP of .312. He helped lead the Blue Jays to a playoff appearance that year. Unfortunately, Grichuk saw a decline in performance in 2021.
Randal Grichuk’s trade may not come as a surprise to some. Outfielders George Springer, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez all had great seasons in 2021. It was speculated that he may be traded at some point in time. Grichuk was a well-liked player in the clubhouse with experience. He helped shape this version of the Blue Jays that will continue without him.
Raimel Tapia in the Blue Jays Lineup
Raimel Tapia will bring a different type of player to the Blue Jays’ lineup. Also, Tapia is a primary outfielder and has experience in pinch-hitting. He is a left-handed batter, which many Blue Jays fans have been quick to point out is missing in the lineup dominated by right-handed batters. A player who also brings a lot of speed, the team will benefit from his presence wherever he ends up fitting on the team. Tapia is 81st percentile in sprint speed.
Tapia is a lifetime .280 hitter and a .325 OBP. Raimel Tapia does not hit for power, however, this will not be an issue in a lineup that is stacked with power potential. He fills in a gap the Blue Jays need. If the Blue Jays were lacking anything in this star-studded lineup, it was the ability to steal bases with speed and a left-handed batter. This trade brings a diverse player without giving up a lot in return.
Nonetheless, this trade helps out both organizations to fill a spot of need. This trade of Randal Grichuk to the Rockies and Raimel Tapia to the Blue Jays will hopefully benefit both teams in the 2022 season. Thank you Grichuk, and welcome to Toronto Tapia!
Main Photo:
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Players Mentioned:
Randal Grichuk, Raimel Tapia, Adrian Pinto, George Springer, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Teoscar Hernandez
