The Toronto Blue Jays were buyers at the 2022 Major League Baseball trade deadline on Tuesday, and among the players they acquired was righthanded relief pitcher Zach Pop of Brampton, Ontario. Pop was traded from the Blue Jays with pitcher Anthony Bass from the Miami Marlins for prospect Jordan Groshans.
Pop has pitched 18 games for the Marlins in 2022. He has a record of two wins and zero losses with an earned run average of 3.60. In 20 innings pitched, Pop has given up 23 hits, eight earned runs, two walks and had 14 strikeouts with a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.25.
Bass is rejoining the Blue Jays after playing with them in the 2020 season. He has also pitched for the San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners. This season with the Marlins, Bass has pitched 45 games and has a record of two wins and three losses with an excellent earned run average of 1.41. In 44 2/3 innings pitched, he has given up 32 hits, seven earned runs and 10 walks along with 45 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.94.
The Blue Jays also acquired right handed pitcher Mitch White from the Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Whit Merrifield from the Kansas City Royals. In the trade with the Dodgers, the Blue Jays also acquired minor league infielder Alex DeJesus, while the Dodgers acquired minor league pitchers Nick Frasso and Moises Brito. In the trade with the Royals, the Blue Jays are sending right handed pitcher Max Castillo and minor league infielder Samad Taylor.
White had a record of one win and two losses with 47 strikeouts and an earned run average of 3.70. In 56 innings pitched, he gave up 51 hits, 23 earned runs and 19 walks, along with 47 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.25.
Merrifield, a two-time all-star with the Royals (in 2019 and 2021), has batted .240 with six home runs and 42 runs batted in with Kansas City in 2022. In 420 plate appearances, he has scored 51 runs and had 92 hits, 23 doubles, one triple, 15 stolen bases, 30 walks, 135 total bases, seven sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .290 and a slugging percentage of .352.
Throughout his career, Merrifield has led Major League Baseball and the American League in several categories. They include Major League Baseball in hits (192 in 2018 and 206 in 2019), doubles (42 in 2021), triples (10 in 2019), stolen bases (45 in 2018), and sacrifice flies (12 in 2021). Merrifield also led the American League in stolen bases (34 in 2017 and 40 in 2021).
