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Blue Jays trade Teoscar Hernandez to Mariners – Toronto Sun

Published

2 years ago

November 16, 2022

Teoscar Hernandez of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates his two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Rogers Centre on July 13, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. Photo by Cole Burston /Getty Images

In his final appearance as a Blue Jay, an electrifying one in which he hit a pair of home runs before all but the Rogers Centre roof collapsed on his team, Teoscar Hernandez earned a standing ovation and curtain call.

Who knew it was going to be a farewell for the popular slugger, who in many ways was the heartbeat of the Jays offence?

That end came on Wednesday when general manager Ross Atkins triggered what almost certainly will be a busy off-season by dealing Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners for a pair of pitchers.

Coming to the Jays are right-handed reliever Erik Swanson – who will add some much-needed swing and miss to the bullpen – and intriguing left hander Adam Macko, one of the M’s top prospects.

In both making the deal and talking about it afterwards, Atkins hinted at the reality that this is just the beginning.

“(Hernandez) has been a huge part of this transition of us going from an interesting team to a contending team,” Atkins said on a Zoom call. “We will miss him. We got to the point where the acquisitions on the run prevention side would help us.

“(We will) continue to look for more pitching and a more versatile offence.”

In other words, if you think the team is lesser today without Hernandez, you’re right. But the work has just begun for a front office that sent a clear signal of its intentions.

Moving Hernandez now made sense financially, given that he’s scheduled to be a free agent in 2024 and there was no indication of serious extension talks taking place between the parties.

A middle-of-the-order presence for the past three seasons, Hernandez’s production will need to be replaced in the Jays lineup, ideally with a left-handed bat. And there’s little doubt that will be the priority for the GM.

“We have a decent idea of where the opportunities are going to be via trade, via free agency, to make our team better,” Atkins said.

Where that will take the team remains to be seen, but with three catchers there is some currency and trade and more freed up in cash, given the $14 million US or so Hernandez was slated to make in his final year of arbitration.

As it applies to Wednesday’s deal specifically, there are implications both to the bullpen and the outfield.

First with the relievers, in Swanson they get a swing-and-miss type arm that was a depth strength for so many of the teams that had post-season success.

The 29-year-old Swanson appeared in 57 games for the Mariners in 2022, setting career bests with a 1.68 ERA and 0.91 WHIP while striking out 70.

On a team-friendly contract, he immediately slots in at the back end of a bullpen that with another high-impact arm could emerge as a bonafide strength for 2023.

Addressing the bullpen was a clear priority from the day the Jays were eliminated by Hernandez’s new team and frankly, likely well before that fateful day.

“He’s coming off a really remarkable year getting both sides of the plate out on a regular basis and a very high strikeout rate with a well above-average weapon in his split,” Atkins said of Swanson, whose attraction was amplified by the fact that he’s under team control for the next three seasons.

“He’ll complement us well and can pitch really in any inning. The strikeouts are big. It’s been talked about a lot, for some good reason. It’s an opportunity for us to improve.”

As for the outfield, it’s apparent the work isn’t done.

On Wednesday, the Jays parted ways with Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer, designating both players for assignment, a precursor to the Hernandez swap. Though Atkins suggested the team can proceed with the bodies currently on the roster, that seems doubtful.

As well, the team would consider sliding George Springer over to right field if another centre fielder was acquired via trade or free agency.

“We’re fortunate that George can play centre field and we’re open to him being versatile for us as he has been in the past,” Atkins said.

Given all the potential moving parts – and the financial implications – it’s virtually impossible to grade this trade until the rest of the off-season work is complete.

There’s no doubt that the exit of Hernandez will be felt in the clubhouse (where he was a popular and positive leader), in the seats (where he was a fan favourite) and in the lineup (where his bat was elite, banging out 57 home runs the previous two seasons.)

Don’t discount any of those factors, the byproduct of what may have been Atkins’ most savvy trade as GM when he acquired Hernandez from the Houston Astros in 2017 for Francisco Liriano.

But with Swanson, the run prevention element is better, especially given the versatility he brings in taking down both left- and right-handed hitters.

And most importantly, is what comes next. Atkins didn’t trade away an elite player without plans to complete a much more complex blueprint.

At minimum, the deal was a signal both to what awaits and a recognition from the front office that the 2022 version wasn’t quite good enough to reach the heights of baseball’s elite.

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Sports

Lankinen stops 26 shots, Canucks blank Flyers 3-0

Published

60 mins ago

October 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves for his fourth career shutout and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 on Saturday night.

Nils Hoglander, Brock Boeser and Kyle Sherwood scored for the Canucks, who spoiled Philadelphia’s home opener and the first NHL home game for top Flyers’ prospects Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko.

The Canucks controlled play for most of the game and took advantage of Philadelphia’s defensive breakdowns for a pair of goals.

Samuel Ersson made 29 saves for Philadelphia, which lost its fourth consecutive game (0-3-1) after winning its season opener against the Canucks in Vancouver.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: Tyler Myers picked up an assist on a nifty, no-look pass to Boeser. It was Myers’ 1,000th NHL game. Myers also had three shots on goal, blocked a pair of shots, finished the game plus-1 and led the Canucks in total time on ice at 21:54.

Flyers: In another milestone game, Philadelphia captain Sean Couturier played in his 800th career game. However, the veteran centre was demoted to the fourth line and on the left wing by coach John Tortorella before the game. Once the Flyers fell behind 3-0, Couturier was shifted back to centre, but he couldn’t spark the team’s offence.

KEY MOMENT

Vancouver scored twice in 50 seconds in the second period to pull away. Sherwood’s goal was a one-timer off a faceoff win by Teddy Blueger to make it 3-0.

KEY STAT

Minus 11, the Flyers’ goal differential in five games this season at even strength. Through five games they have now been outscored 17-6 at five-on-five. All three of Vancouver’s goals on Saturday were at even strength.

UP NEXT

Canucks: Visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

Flyers: Host the Capitals on Tuesday night.

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Sports

Dobson scores in 9th round of shootout, Islanders edge Canadiens 4-3

Published

1 hour ago

October 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK (AP) — Noah Dobson scored in the ninth round of the shootout to lead the New York Islanders to a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee scored in regulation for the Islanders, and Dobson had two assists. Semyon Varlamov finished with 21 saves.

Cole Caulfield had two goals and Logan Mailloux also scored for Montreal. Cayden Primeau made 33 saves.

Palmieri and Simon Holmstron also scored for the Islanders in the shootout, and Oliver Kapanen and Emil Heineman tallied for Montreal.

Caufield forced overtime with 2:10 left in regulation to tie the score 3-3. It came 2:26 after Lee gave the Islanders the lead.

TAKEAWAYS

Canadiens: Mailloux scored his first NHL goal 59 seconds into the second period to tie the game 2-2.

Islanders: Entering the game, the Islanders’ 33 shots per game ranked third in the NHL but their average of 2.5 goals per game was 27th in the league. Horvat and Palmieri scored 2:26 apart late in the first period to give New York a 2-0 lead.

KEY MOMENT

Varlamov’s glove save on Caufield’s breakaway 5:44 into the second period kept the score tied 2-2.

KEY STAT

New York limited Montreal to 24 shots in the win. Through their first four games before Saturday night, the Islanders had held opponents to 29.3 shots per game, which was 13th in the NHL.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: Host the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.

Islanders: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

—

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Woodland with a 65 in Las Vegas is in contention for first time since brain surgery

Published

1 hour ago

October 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland finished 54 holes of the wind-delayed Shriners Children’s Open knowing he’ll have his best chance at winning since brain surgery more than a year ago. Best of all Saturday was being finished.

Woodland had three birdies over his final six holes and extended his bogey-free streak to 28 holes in polishing off a 6-under 65 that gave him a share of the clubhouse lead with Las Vegas resident Kurt Kitayama, who also had a 65.

They trailed J.T. Poston and Doug Ghim by one shot when play was suspended by darkness. Thirty of the 66 players who made the cut earlier Saturday did not finish.

Poston had an eagle during his closing stretch of the second round for a 65, and his only sub-par hole in the third round was an eagle on the par-5 ninth. It put him at 15-under par through 13 holes. Also at 15 under was Ghim, who had four straight birdies and was facing a five-foot par putt on the 17th hole when it was too dark to continue.

Woodland had surgery in September 2023 to remove a lesion on his brain, situated on a tract that caused fear and anxiety. It’s been a long road back of making progress with his health, getting dialed in on the right medication and trying to get his game in order.

He also went back to Randy Smith, the PGA Hall of Fame swing coach in Dallas. Now Woodland is sensing the pieces coming back together.

“I feel a lot better for one,” Woodland said. “That’s a huge help. But I’ve seen some signs. I’ve been back with Randy Smith for a couple months now. I am starting to drive it better, iron play, controlling the golf ball like I haven’t in a long time, which is nice. Then putts start going in, start putting some good scores up.

“I’m excited and happy to be here — and really happy to finish tonight so I can get some sleep tomorrow.”

The third round was to resume at 8 a.m., and Woodland likely will start around 11 a.m. That beats getting up before dawn, which he already has had to do twice this week.

Next to be determined is where he stands.

Harris English and Alejandro Tosti of Argentina also were at 14 under with four holes to play, including the reachable par 4 and the easiest of the three par 5s. Six other players were at 13 under and still had holes to play.

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., only completed 13 holes on Saturday and sits two shots back of the leaders. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., is tied for 44th at 5 under. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is tied for 61st at 3 under.

The wind has calmed substantially from Friday, when gusts approached 50 miles per hour and led to a four-hour delay that caused the stop-and-start and the last two days being suspended because of darkness. A TPC Summerlin course that was all about hanging on is now back to being a test of who can make the most birdies.

“Conditions will be pretty easy. I think you saw that with some of the scores,” Poston said. “Guys are making birdies. So I think it’s just trying to stay aggressive but also stay patient if the putts don’t fall early because there is a lot of holes left.”

The second round didn’t end until about noon Saturday and the cut was at 3-under 139. Among those who missed was Tom Kim, the two-time defending champion who was trying to become the first player since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic (2009-11) to win the same PGA Tour event three straight years.

Also missing the cut were the three winners in the FedEx Cup Fall — Patton Kizzire, Kevin Yu and Matt McCarty.

___

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