Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Blue Jays Trade Trent Thornton to Seattle

Originally posted on Full Press Coverage
By Carter Brooks | Last updated 7/28/23

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to be active on the player movement front as Major League Baseball approaches its 2023 trade deadline of 6:00 PM on Tuesday, August 1.

Following the swap of catching prospect Sammy Hernandez to St. Louis for left-handed reliever Genesis Cabrera, the team officially sent right-hander Trent Thornton to Seattle in exchange for infielder Mason McCoy. McCoy was immediately assigned to Triple-A Buffalo as news of the trade broke.

Thornton, 29, spent five seasons with the Blue Jays, to which he has seven wins, 14 losses, a 4.77 ERA, and 249 strikeouts to his name. Oh, and he also led the team in innings pitched in 2019 with 154 and one-third.

Thornton has had his struggles this season, however.

He was actually designated for assignment earlier in the week, following just four MLB appearances this season. He has a 1.69 ERA and 1.50 WHIP on the season. In his 5 and one-third innings pitched, Thornton has five strikeouts and a single walk. He has made 22 appearances for Triple-A Buffalo as well this season.

He will now report to the Tacoma Rainiers – the Triple-A affiliate of the Mariners. In order to successfully make that move, Seattle shifted pitcher Marcos Gonzalez to the 60-day injured list.

Last season, Thornton had a 4.11 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 32 games. He struck out 37 batters and walked 17 from the bullpen.

PUT ME IN COACH @Trent_Thornton1 | #LetsGoBlueJays pic.twitter.com/yONHKmlVTx

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 13, 2019

Coming to Toronto is the 28-year-old McCoy. Although never yet suiting up in an MLB game, the former 2017 sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles has been with the Rainiers for the past two years. The University of Iowa alum owns a .234/.330/.407 batting line with a .737 OPS, 11 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases in 87 games for Tacoma.

He will be with the Bisons for the short-term future. Typically, McCoy has played shortstop, to which his defence has also been praised.

Cabrera, whom the Jays picked up from St. Louis, has provided a high strike count over his time with the Cardinals. Although owning an inflated 5.06 ERA on the season, Cabrera’s strength is in his strike zone. He has a 10.7 strikeout-per-nine-inning rate but has struggled with the long ball this season. His home run and walk rates are at a career-high in 2023.

The left-handed reliever has joined Tim Mayza as the only other southpaw in the Jays’ bullpen, to which he will look to get back to his 2020-22 form.

The 57-46 Blue Jays remain 5.5 games back of the Orioles (62-40) for first place in the tight American League East Division. Tampa Bay (62-43) is positioned between the two clubs. Toronto will turn to Kevin Gausman on Friday night as it kicks off a three-game, weekend set with the Los Angeles Angels.

This article first appeared on Full Press Coverage and was syndicated with permission.

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