GMs Ross Atkins, Mike Hazen shared details about the Blue Jays/Diamondbacks trade

After months of speculation and interest from multiple teams, the Diamondbacks finally traded a left-handed batter, and the Blue Jays finally traded one of their own. The two clubs collaborated on a three-player deal on Friday that saw a defensive player Dalton Farshaw Head to Toronto for catcher Gabriel Moreno And a defensive player Lourdes Gurriel Jr.in a trade that checks several boxes for both institutions.

Given how the D’Backs and the Jays’ needs align so neatly, it’s no surprise that Toronto GM Ross Atkins said that “Since the beginning of the season in which this dialogue beganbetween the two sides.

“He was a perfect fit with the surplus outfielders, specifically the left-handed hitting center fielders and our surplus catching needs.Atkins told reporters, including TSN’s Scott Mitchell. “From the start, we felt it would be a very important and relevant team.”

The Blue Jays entered the winter with Moreno, Alejandro KirkAnd the Danny Jansen They’re all lined up as options behind the plate, with Moreno (one of the best prospects in the game) looking ready for an extended tryout after making his MLB debut with 25 games played in 2022. While Varsho only has 283 MLB games on his resume, he’s been Indeed the most experienced in the Arizona outer core – Corbin Carroll And the Alec Thomas Both made their major league debuts in 2022, and Jake McCarthy He appeared in 123 games for the Diamondbacks over the past two seasons.

Varshaw’s longer record seemed to make him the player most sought after by interested teams, especially since the D’Backs made Carroll (another elite prospect) untouchable in trade negotiations. With the Diamondbacks wanting to add “effect in this tradeThat need, according to Arizona general manager Mike Hazen, can’t be met just by shopping for Thomas or McCarthy.

“I think there was a greater certainty – and we obviously get it too – with Daulton’s performance up to this point in his career, and perhaps it’s true, that teams were willing to pay more for it. I don’t know we’d get through this split otherwiseHazen told Nick Pekoro of the Arizona Republic and other reporters.

Teams like the Yankees, Reds, White Sox, Athletics, Astros, Brewers, and Marlins have also been linked with Diamondbacks players in the rumor mill, with contenders and rebuilding teams alike interested in Arizona’s mix of young, controllable players. Likewise, Toronto has received a lot of calls about its catchers, but reports indicated that the Blue Jays first wanted to wait and see where some of the other free market and free agent players had landed. Once you get brave Shaun Murphy from Oakland and once Wilson Contreras (cardinals) f Christian Vasquez He (the Twins) signed, the way was then clearer for the D’Backs and Jays to align the trade.

Even then, Atkins said finding a match had been difficult since “Each of our three catchers was of interest to them and all of their field players were of interest to us. The element that made it difficult was that we were trying to incorporate more talent into our major league roster. They are looking to make clear steps forward and push the envelope on the winning front which is why Lourdes Gurriel came into the picture and made this deal work.. “

The inclusion of Gurriel gives the veteran but not too old D’Backs (Gurriel enters he’s 29) out to join Carroll, McCarthy, Thomas and the former AL Rookie Of The Kyle Lewis, which was acquired in another trade with the Mariners earlier this winter. “I’m hoping that the connection, the base, the ability to hit, the two-hit approach will make our lineup more difficult to contend with the way some of these kids are going to run the bases the way they did last year.Hazen said. “I feel like a lot of those dynamic attacks have a chance to build up. “

The trade to the Jays and Mariners represented Arizona’s biggest moves of the winter, as the D’Backs focused mostly on their bases with relatively lower level moves like signings. Michael Castro And the Scott McGough. Friday also saw the D’Backs complete another trade, doing so Diego Castillo of pirates to add more depth to the mix.

With Arizona still trying to find its footing after three straight losing seasons, the Blue Jays are in a different position as the club intends to compete for the World Series in 2023. After a disappointing collapse against Seattle in the Wild Card Series, they have been aggressive in signing the right Chris Bassett to a three-year, $63 million deal Kevin Kiermayer For a one-year contract, trading Teuscar Hernandez for sailors to Eric Swanson and possibility Adam Mako.

Now that the Jays have finally pulled the trigger on the catcher trade, Atkins said,I think weightlifting is over“For the rest of the off-season, though, the front office.”Definitely not ruling anything out and we expect some additional improvements. Farshaw and Kiermeyer are both left-handed batters, so the Blue JaysWe’re looking to improve our team from putting up Gurriel, but in our opinion it doesn’t need to be left or right, it’s a matter of effect and fit after that. “