MLB Trade Figures: Blue Jays Move Danny Jansen to Boston for Trio of Prospects

Posted on by Vaseline

By Zack Meisel, C. Trent Rosecrans and Cody Stavenhagen

Boston Red Sox get: CDanny Jansen

Toronto Blue Jays get: INFs Cutter Coffey and Eddinson Paulino, RHP Gilberto Batista

Zack Meisel: For Toronto, it’s a no-brainer. The Blue Jays are in last place in the AL East, and even if they hope to bounce back next season, trading everyone not in the 2025 plan is a start. That means Jansen, who heads to free agency this winter as perhaps the best option in a weak catcher market. If any of the three players they acquired from the Red Sox pan out, it’s a win. Coffey, of course, seems like the best bet.

As for the Red Sox, a backup catcher wasn’t their biggest need, not that any team should be penalized for upgrading their roster while trying to clinch a wild-card spot. For one thing, they rank last in the majors—by light years—in offensive output at second base. They’re solid at nearly every other spot (especially if they can get first baseman Triston Casas back from injury), though there’s still room for another bat. Jansen was one of the better-hitting catchers the previous three seasons, though he stumbled in 2024. He still has excellent plate discipline, with an elite chase rate and healthy walk and strikeout rates. Oh, and he’s arguably the league’s best blocker of balls behind the plate.

Chances are that one day we’ll look back and say, “This was a successful deal.”

Red Stockings: B-
Blue Jays: B

C. Trent Rosecrans: In 2021, Jansen and Reese McGuire split time behind the plate for the Blue Jays, with McGuire starting 61 games and Jansen 54, while Alejandro Kirk started another 40. The following year, Kirk became the team’s permanent catcher and the Blue Jays selected Jansen over McGuire for the backup position, trading McGuire to the White Sox near the end of spring training. With Jansen now coming over from the Blue Jays, it appears likely he will once again squeeze out McGuire for the backup position.

Jansen is not a huge improvement, but he is an improvement and that is no small thing.

Coffey, 20, was Boston’s second-round pick in 2022, selected 41st overall. At High-A Greenville, he is hitting .238/.321/.463 with 12 doubles and 14 homers. Coffey and two other utility players figure to be a decent haul for a backup catcher who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Red Stockings: B-
Blue Jays: B+

go deeper

GO DEEPER

Four Red Sox prospects: Blaze Jordan returns, Cutter Coffey hits 6 straight home runs

Cody Stavenhagen: We’ll see how Jansen fits in with the Red Sox. He’s a right-handed hitter, which seems like a clear need. But he’s hit better against righties (.747 OPS) than lefties (.697 OPS) his entire career, so it’s not exactly a way to fill Boston’s weakness against lefties.

At catcher, Boston already has Connor Wong, who is batting .299 but not great defensively, and McGuire. Despite a down year at the plate, Jansen is still an upgrade over McGuire. He has pop in his bat and is one of the best blocking catchers in the game.

The Red Sox aren’t giving up much of an impact, but will hiring a catcher ultimately prove worth the prospect capital? Coffey has solid power potential, but he’s batting just .238 in High A. He’s the type of player a team like the Blue Jays might consider worth the risk, but questions about his defense and plate discipline cloud his profile.

Paulino is having a strong year, but he’s still a fringe infielder, and Batista is a real lottery ticket.

Three players for a rental catcher is still a good idea, and overall the Jansen fit seems a bit odd and unlikely to lead the Red Sox to victory.

Red Stockings: B-
Blue Jays: B

(Photo by Danny Jansen: Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)

Avatar for Vaseline
Vaseline https://newspowergreen.biz.id

You May Also Like

More From Author