The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to trade outfielder Kevin Kiermaier to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for left-handed reliever Ryan Yarbrough, according to multiple reports.
Kiermaier, who plans to retire upon becoming a free agent after this season, re-signed with the Blue Jays last off-season on a one-year deal worth $10.5 million. FansSided&#8217;s Robert Murray was first to report the deal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring Kevin Kiermaier from the Toronto Blue Jays, according to a source familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1818404836062429640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
The 34-year-old centre-fielder excelled in his first season with Toronto, hitting .265/.322/.419 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 129 games, posting a 104 wRC+ &#8212; the highest of his career since 2017. Defensively, he registered +18 defensive runs saved and +13 outs above average across 981.1 innings, winning his fourth career Gold Glove Award.
Kiermaier&#8217;s offensive production has regressed significantly this season, however, as evidenced by his disappointing .195/.236/.310 slash line and 53 wRC+ in 82 games. But he remains one of the top defensive outfielders in the sport, with his +10 OAA ranking in the 97th percentile of the majors this season.
That should provide a significant boost in the field for a Dodgers club that&#8217;s struggled in 2024, as their outfield defence is <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&amp;qual=y&amp;season=2024&amp;season1=2024&amp;ind=0&amp;team=0%2Cts&amp;stats=fld&amp;pos=of&amp;type=1&amp;sortcol=19&amp;sortdir=default&amp;pagenum=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tied for 20th in DRS (-8) and sits 25th in OAA (-7)</a>.
Sending Yarbrough &#8212; on an expiring $3.9-million contract &#8212; the other way will help offset Kiermaier&#8217;s remaining salary. The Blue Jays are sending cash along with the veteran outfielder to the Dodgers.
Yarbrough, who spent his first five big-league seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, pitched to a 3.74 ERA and 5.16 FIP with 39 strikeouts and 25 walks over 32 relief appearances with Los Angeles. Left-handed batters slashed .132/.194/.231 against him in 28.2 innings while producing a 13.9-per-cent strikeout-to-walk rate difference.
The 32-year-old lefty has effectively limited hard contact this season, with his average exit velocity (86.7 m.p.h.) and hard-hit rate against (31 per cent) placing in the 90th and 95th percentiles, respectively. His arsenal includes five pitches: a curveball, sinker, four-seamer, changeup and cutter.
In total, the Blue Jays traded eight players ahead of Tuesday&#8217;s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, receiving 13 prospects and Yarbrough in return.

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to trade outfielder Kevin Kiermaier to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for left-handed reliever Ryan Yarbrough, according to multiple reports.

Kiermaier, who plans to retire upon becoming a free agent after this season, re-signed with the Blue Jays last off-season on a one-year deal worth $10.5 million. FansSided's Robert Murray was first to report the deal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring Kevin Kiermaier from the Toronto Blue Jays, according to a source familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1818404836062429640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
The 34-year-old centre-fielder excelled in his first season with Toronto, hitting .265/.322/.419 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 129 games, posting a 104 wRC+ -- the highest of his career since 2017. Defensively, he registered +18 defensive runs saved and +13 outs above average across 981.1 innings, winning his fourth career Gold Glove Award.

Kiermaier's offensive production has regressed significantly this season, however, as evidenced by his disappointing .195/.236/.310 slash line and 53 wRC+ in 82 games. But he remains one of the top defensive outfielders in the sport, with his +10 OAA ranking in the 97th percentile of the majors this season.

That should provide a significant boost in the field for a Dodgers club that's struggled in 2024, as their outfield defence is <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&amp;qual=y&amp;season=2024&amp;season1=2024&amp;ind=0&amp;team=0%2Cts&amp;stats=fld&amp;pos=of&amp;type=1&amp;sortcol=19&amp;sortdir=default&amp;pagenum=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tied for 20th in DRS (-8) and sits 25th in OAA (-7)</a>.

Sending Yarbrough -- on an expiring $3.9-million contract -- the other way will help offset Kiermaier's remaining salary. The Blue Jays are sending cash along with the veteran outfielder to the Dodgers.

Yarbrough, who spent his first five big-league seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, pitched to a 3.74 ERA and 5.16 FIP with 39 strikeouts and 25 walks over 32 relief appearances with Los Angeles. Left-handed batters slashed .132/.194/.231 against him in 28.2 innings while producing a 13.9-per-cent strikeout-to-walk rate difference.

The 32-year-old lefty has effectively limited hard contact this season, with his average exit velocity (86.7 m.p.h.) and hard-hit rate against (31 per cent) placing in the 90th and 95th percentiles, respectively. His arsenal includes five pitches: a curveball, sinker, four-seamer, changeup and cutter.

In total, the Blue Jays traded eight players ahead of Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, receiving 13 prospects and Yarbrough in return.

Blue Jays, Dodgers make Kiermaier-Yarbrough swap

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