The Grichuk trade and Toronto’s crowded catching situation
Tapia is a very professional hitter who is a career .280/.325/.395. He doesn’t have much power, but he can run a bit as he stole 20 bases in 2021. He is a contact hitter and a solid defender in left field.
I love this trade for the Jays. They needed a left-handed bat. The fact that Tapia is a contact hitter and adds speed are bonuses. But what makes the deal even better is the prospect the Jays acquired.
Pinto is a 19-year-old second baseman/shortstop/centre fielder who can fly. He is listed at 5-foot-6 and 156 pounds. He is tiny but he can play. He hit .360/.487/.543 in the Dominican Summer League and stole 41 of 49 bases in just 54 games played. He walked 38 times and only struck out 18 times.
Finally, the Jays have one of the top prospects in all of baseball in Gabriel Moreno. He is the complete package. He can hit and play defence and is even athletic enough to play third on occasion. Moreno will be ready for the big leagues at some point in 2022.
So, what does an organization do with four highly qualified catchers? It manages them with the idea that it is a long season, and the position is the most vulnerable to potential injuries.