*Photo from the New York Post*
The Toronto Blue Jays have beefed up their pitching depth. In their latest move, the Blue Jays have traded for LHP Steven Matz from the New York Mets in exchange for pitchers Sean Reid-Foley, Yennsy Diaz, and Josh Winckowski, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. The trade has been confirmed by both teams.
Matz has spent his entire 6 year career with the Mets, posting a career 31-41 record with a 4.35 ERA, throwing 579 2/3 innings across 112 games, 107 of which were starts. In the 2020 season, Matz posted a rough 0-5 record, with a high ERA of 9.68, striking out 36 hitters in 30 2/3 innings pitched across 9 appearances, 6 of which were starts.
The 29 year old Matz was a former top prospect in the Mets farm system, getting as high as the 15th ranked prospect in all of baseball, in the 2015 MLB Pipeline prospect rankings. He has shown flashes of brilliance in his career, but has struggled through ups and downs for the majority of his career, being unable to find consistency during his time with the Mets.
Reid-Foley was selected by the Blue Jays in 2014, and has spent parts of 3 seasons with the Blue Jays, starting in 2018. Reid-Foley has a career 5-8 record with a 4.40 ERA, throwing 71 2/3 innings across 21 games, 13 of which were starts. Reid-Foley did come up as a starter, but the Blue Jays have seen bullpen potential in him as well, so he can be used in either format by the Mets.
Diaz is the Blue Jays 26th ranked prospect in MLB Pipeline's rankings, and has made just one appearance in the major leagues, with that coming in 2020. Before that, he had not pitched above Double A in his career. Winckowski was ranked 27th in the Blue Jays system who has a good track record in the minors since being drafted, posting a 2.69 ERA between Class A Lansing and High A Dunedin in the 2019 season.
Matz can be used in either a starting role or a relief role, which is useful for manager Charlie Montoyo. Matz joins a pitching core featuring Hyun-Jin Ryu, Nate Pearson, Robbie Ray, Thomas Hatch, Ross Stripling, Trent Thornton, Julian Merryweather, and Anthony Kay. This offseason, the Blue Jays have added Ray, AJ Cole, Tyler Chatwood, Kirby Yates, Marcus Semien, and George Springer in a busy winter.
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