In an off-season the Toronto Blue Jays need to improve their offence, they’ve taken a step back, at least so far.

On Tuesday evening, Jeff Passan reported that the Blue Jays traded Spencer Horwitz and prospect Nick Mitchell to the Cleveland Guardians for second baseman Andrés Giménez and right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Full trade agreed to between the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> and Guardians…
Toronto gets: 2B Andres Gimenez RHP Nick Sandlin
Cleveland gets: 1B Spencer Horwitz OF Nick Mitchell
&mdash; Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1866640425127157763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The immediate reaction: This trade is not a good one. Giménez had a terrific 2022 season with the bat, slashing .297/.371/.466 with 17 home runs in 557 plate appearances for a 141 wRC+ and a 6.1 fWAR.
Since the start of the 2023 season though, Giménez is slashing .252/.306/.368 with 24 home runs in 1,249 plate appearances for a 90 wRC+. In 2024, the former Guardian slashed .252/.298/.340 with nine home runs in 633 plate appearances, giving him an 83 wRC+ and a 2.8 fWAR.
By no means is Giménez a bad player, far from it, in fact, he’s a pretty darn good player. The 26-year-old is arguably the best defensive middle infielder in the game, as he had 20 Defensive Runs Saved and 19 Outs Above Average in 1331 innings at the keystone last season. For his career, he has 58 DRS and 50 OAA in 3973.2 innings at second base and positive numbers at shortstop.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Your 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winner &#8211; AL Second Base &#8211; Andrés Giménez<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RawlingsGoldGloveAwards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RawlingsGoldGloveAwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/IzVzUIDDL9">pic.twitter.com/IzVzUIDDL9</a>
&mdash; Rawlings Baseball (@RawlingsSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/RawlingsSports/status/1853249555585982497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Giménez is also a good baserunner, stealing 30 of 35 bases last season. For his career, he has stolen 99 of 114 bases. With that being said, Giménez is a good player who has the potential to be a fantastic player if, if, his bat ever comes around.
The issue though, is that the Blue Jays just traded one of their best offensive players for a player that could be good with the bat (with fantastic defence). Last season, Horwitz slashed .265/.357/.433 with 12 home runs in 381 plate appearances for a 127 wRC+ and a 1.9 fWAR, with an 11 BB% and an 18.4 K%.
For Blue Jay hitters in 2024, his 127 wRC+ ranked only second, behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Of the 14 players with 150+ plate appearances, only five of them had a wRC+ above 100, two of which &#8211; Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Justin Turner &#8211; were traded at the deadline. The only Blue Jay hitter in 2024 with a wRC+ above 100 was Leo Jiménez.
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✔️ Fair ✔️ Gone
Spencer Horwitz has a .955 OPS 👀 <a href="https://t.co/PJN56arA0k">pic.twitter.com/PJN56arA0k</a>
&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1804945271496843272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Trading Horwitz isn’t really the issue, as he’s blocked at first base, at least in 2025, by Guerrero Jr., and they seemingly gave up giving him reps at second base. It’s who they traded him for. Moving a bat-first player, one of your best last season, for a defence-first player when you desperately need offence is a questionable use of assets.  The Blue Jays could’ve realistically packaged Horwitz for a power-hitting player, a trade that would make a lot more sense.
Another issue with this trade is Giménez’s contract. The 26-year-old signed a seven-year, $106.5 million deal before the start of the 2023 season coming off his terrific 2022 season. While he makes a base salary of $10.6 million in 2025, his annual average value towards the luxury tax is just over $15 million.
Horwitz, on the other hand, made the league minimum for the next two seasons before three seasons of arbitration. So to summarize, the Blue Jays traded offence for defence, took on more money without fixing a big need, and now look worse than they were yesterday. Not great, but what about the two other players involved in the deal?
<h2>What about the other two players involved</h2>
The Blue Jays have added another piece to their bullpen, acquiring right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin in this deal. Through his four-year career, the 27-year-old has a career 3.27 ERA in 195.1 innings pitched, but a 4.41 career FIP tells a much different story.  In 2024, he had a solid 3.75 ERA, but a 5.23 FIP to give him a -0.7 fWAR. Sitting at 92-93 mph with his heater, he has a career 27.7 K% and an 11.4 BB%.
Sandlin is entering his second of four seasons of arbitration and is expected to make $1.6 million in arbitration according to MLB Trade Rumors. He also has all three option years remaining, although, he has just over three years of service time. Once he reaches five years of service time, so likely sometime in 2026, he can’t be optioned without being designated for assignment.
Nick Mitchell, an outfield prospect, was drafted with the compensation pick the Jays received for losing Matt Chapman after the fourth round of the 2024 draft. The 21-year-old looked solid with the Dunedin Blue Jays, slashing .289/.350/.467 with four home runs in 103 plate appearances, showing an increase in power. He didn’t get to show it, but Mitchell also has incredible speed.
At the end of the day, Giménez isn’t a bad player and has the potential to be a very good player, but giving up your second-best offensive player in 2024 may not be the play. Time will tell how good this trade is, but the Blue Jays have to do more than this, like signing a big bat and a starting pitcher.
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As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

In an off-season the Toronto Blue Jays need to improve their offence, they’ve taken a step back, at least so far.



On Tuesday evening, Jeff Passan reported that the Blue Jays traded Spencer Horwitz and prospect Nick Mitchell to the Cleveland Guardians for second baseman Andrés Giménez and right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin.

https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1866640425127157763

The immediate reaction: This trade is not a good one. Giménez had a terrific 2022 season with the bat, slashing .297/.371/.466 with 17 home runs in 557 plate appearances for a 141 wRC+ and a 6.1 fWAR.

Since the start of the 2023 season though, Giménez is slashing .252/.306/.368 with 24 home runs in 1,249 plate appearances for a 90 wRC+. In 2024, the former Guardian slashed .252/.298/.340 with nine home runs in 633 plate appearances, giving him an 83 wRC+ and a 2.8 fWAR.

By no means is Giménez a bad player, far from it, in fact, he’s a pretty darn good player. The 26-year-old is arguably the best defensive middle infielder in the game, as he had 20 Defensive Runs Saved and 19 Outs Above Average in 1331 innings at the keystone last season. For his career, he has 58 DRS and 50 OAA in 3973.2 innings at second base and positive numbers at shortstop.

https://twitter.com/RawlingsSports/status/1853249555585982497

Giménez is also a good baserunner, stealing 30 of 35 bases last season. For his career, he has stolen 99 of 114 bases. With that being said, Giménez is a good player who has the potential to be a fantastic player if, if, his bat ever comes around.

The issue though, is that the Blue Jays just traded one of their best offensive players for a player that could be good with the bat (with fantastic defence). Last season, Horwitz slashed .265/.357/.433 with 12 home runs in 381 plate appearances for a 127 wRC+ and a 1.9 fWAR, with an 11 BB% and an 18.4 K%.

For Blue Jay hitters in 2024, his 127 wRC+ ranked only second, behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Of the 14 players with 150+ plate appearances, only five of them had a wRC+ above 100, two of which - Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Justin Turner - were traded at the deadline. The only Blue Jay hitter in 2024 with a wRC+ above 100 was Leo Jiménez.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1804945271496843272

Trading Horwitz isn’t really the issue, as he’s blocked at first base, at least in 2025, by Guerrero Jr., and they seemingly gave up giving him reps at second base. It’s who they traded him for. Moving a bat-first player, one of your best last season, for a defence-first player when you desperately need offence is a questionable use of assets.  The Blue Jays could’ve realistically packaged Horwitz for a power-hitting player, a trade that would make a lot more sense.

Another issue with this trade is Giménez’s contract. The 26-year-old signed a seven-year, $106.5 million deal before the start of the 2023 season coming off his terrific 2022 season. While he makes a base salary of $10.6 million in 2025, his annual average value towards the luxury tax is just over $15 million.

Horwitz, on the other hand, made the league minimum for the next two seasons before three seasons of arbitration. So to summarize, the Blue Jays traded offence for defence, took on more money without fixing a big need, and now look worse than they were yesterday. Not great, but what about the two other players involved in the deal?
<h2>What about the other two players involved</h2>
The Blue Jays have added another piece to their bullpen, acquiring right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin in this deal. Through his four-year career, the 27-year-old has a career 3.27 ERA in 195.1 innings pitched, but a 4.41 career FIP tells a much different story.  In 2024, he had a solid 3.75 ERA, but a 5.23 FIP to give him a -0.7 fWAR. Sitting at 92-93 mph with his heater, he has a career 27.7 K% and an 11.4 BB%.

Sandlin is entering his second of four seasons of arbitration and is expected to make $1.6 million in arbitration according to MLB Trade Rumors. He also has all three option years remaining, although, he has just over three years of service time. Once he reaches five years of service time, so likely sometime in 2026, he can’t be optioned without being designated for assignment.

Nick Mitchell, an outfield prospect, was drafted with the compensation pick the Jays received for losing Matt Chapman after the fourth round of the 2024 draft. The 21-year-old looked solid with the Dunedin Blue Jays, slashing .289/.350/.467 with four home runs in 103 plate appearances, showing an increase in power. He didn’t get to show it, but Mitchell also has incredible speed.

At the end of the day, Giménez isn’t a bad player and has the potential to be a very good player, but giving up your second-best offensive player in 2024 may not be the play. Time will tell how good this trade is, but the Blue Jays have to do more than this, like signing a big bat and a starting pitcher.

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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