Toronto Blue Jays gain roster flexibilty by trading Kendrys Morales

The Toronto Blue Jays have traded designated hitter Kendrys Morales to the Oakland Athletics just a day before the opening game of the 2019 season

Less than 24 hours before the first game of the season, the Toronto Blue Jays traded Kendrys Morales and cash considerations to the Oakland Athletics, the team announced Wednesday.

In return, the Blue Jays will receive infielder Jesus Lopez and international signing bonus pool space. In the team’s continuing effort to rebuild, general manager Ross Atkins managed to get assets for Morales, who will be 36 in June.

Morales signed with the Blue Jays in 2016 to be the offensive replacement for Edwin Encarnacion – who would sign with the Cleveland Indians just over a month after the Morales deal.

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In a lineup featuring Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson during the 2017 campaign, Morales didn’t have to be relied on too heavily to carry the offence. He had a solid first season with the Jays, hitting 28 home runs and 85 RBIs in 150 games. However, Morales had trouble finding consistency, finishing with a .250/.308/.445 slash line with a career-high 132 strikeouts.

Last season was more of the same for Morales. While he only struck out 95 times in 130 games, he hit .249/.331/.438 with 21 homers and 57 RBIs serving primarily as the DH.

Morales did, however, homer in seven straight games last season, setting a new Blue Jays record.

The Athletics needed to add a power bat with Matt Olsen set to miss six-to-eight weeks.

The Blue Jays will pay $10 million of the remaining $12 million owed to Morales on the final year of his deal, league sources told the San Fransisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser.

Morales also told Athletics general manager David Forst that he likes playing first base, according to Slusser. He could see some time in the field, but he’ll likely be used more as a DH with the A’s.

Lopez, 22, signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics back in 2013. He has played both short- and full-season A-ball since then. He spent the entirety of last year with Single-A Beloit, where he hit .239/.293/.402 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs.

The deal helps the Jays free up room on the roster for a younger player to come up full-time, and while many figured that man would be Rowdy Tellez, the team decided to add Anthony Alford to the 25-man roster, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi.

Billy McKinney can play all over the diamond. He’ll likely be looked to in the case that Justin Smoak needs a day off. Alford will split time in the outfield with Kevin Pillar, McKinney, Teoscar Hernandez, and Randal Grichuk.

The lineup will also see some changes once Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is ready to return from an injury sustained in spring training.

What do you think of the trade? Who on the Jays will pick up Morales’ production? What do you think of the Alford call up?  Let us know in the comments section below!