Toronto Blue Jays: Breaking down the Roberto Osuna trade

Hector Perez

Any time that a team can get a top 10 prospect from a team’s pipeline, it only adds to the potential in a deal. GM Ross Atkins made it known that the team was going to focus their attention on acquiring pitching and that’s what he did in this deal.

Getting Perez who was Houston’s the 10th ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline is now 11th on the Blue Jays list. 

The Blue Jays don’t have as many promising arms that line up with the position players coming through the system. Everybody knows what Ryan Borucki has accomplished in the early stages of his MLB career but there aren’y as many following behind.

Perez will join Sean Reid-Foley and T.J. Zeuch as intriguing pitchers to watch down the road and Atkins seems to think that there’s a lot to like from the 22-year-old.

As Michael Hoad of Sportsnet writes the concern with Perez has been with his control issues. Here is MLB Pipeline’s detailed scouting report on the right hander.

"Perez can blow his fastball by hitters, ranging from 93-99 mph with two-seamers with nice sink and four-seamers with explosive riding life. He also can produce wipeout breaking stuff when he’s on, though there are times when he can’t find the strike zone with his slider or curveball. He uses a splitter as a changeup, and it likewise can elicit swings and misses or avoid the plate."

There’s obviously room to improve and the Blue Jays will hope that Perez can continue to develop as a starter rather than force him into a role in the bullpen. Some scouts believe that he is more likely to be used as a late-inning reliever which is always a valuable asset but getting him to develop as a starter presents more options.

Expect Perez to join double-A New Hampshire, in 16.2 innings with Corpus Christi, he has a 3.24 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP according to CBS Sports.