The Toronto Blue Jays acquired a third baseman via a trade and a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball free agency this week. On Tuesday, the Blue Jays signed lefthanded relief pitcher Andrew Vasquez of Rancho Cucamonga, California to a one-year deal worth $800,000 according to nbcsportsedge.com. On Wednesday, the Blue Jays acquired third baseman Matt Chapman of Victorville, California from the Oakland Athletics for four prospects (infielder Kevin Smith, and pitchers Kirby Snead, Zach Logue, and Gunnar Hoglund) according to Shi Davidi of Rogers Sportsnet. It should be noted that Hoglund was the Blue Jays’ first round pick in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.
Vasquez is 28 years of age. The Blue Jays are his third Major League Baseball team following two seasons with the Minnesota Twins and one season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In two games with the Dodgers in 2021, Vasquez pitched an inning and two thirds, and had three strikeouts. He also had an earned run average of 0.00. Vasquez however struggled in his two seasons with the Twins in 2018 and 2019, as he had a combined earned run average of 10.80.
Chapman meanwhile batted .210 with 27 home runs and 72 runs batted in during 2021 with Oakland, the team he has played his first five MLB seasons with. In 529 at bats, he scored 75 runs and had 111 hits, 15 doubles, three triples, three stolen bases, 80 walks, an on base percentage of .314, a slugging percentage of .403, 213 total bases, and nine sacrifice flies. In 2019, Chapman was a MLB All-Star, as he batted .249 with 36 home runs and 91 runs batted in.
