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News and Notes: Blue Jays’ top prospect Ricky Tiedemann getting a second opinion on his throwing elbow
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Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jul 20, 2024, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 20, 2024, 05:51 EDT
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The Major League Baseball trade deadline is less than two weeks away.
As you can imagine, there are a ton of rumours circulating around baseball regarding the Blue Jays. Moreover, there’s been a ton of news as teams return from the All-Star break.
In this edition of News and Notes, we’ll look at some bad news regarding a Blue Jays prospect, what the team’s trade deadline plans could be, and a notable prospect hung up the cleats.
Let’s dig in!

The latest on Ricky Tiedemann

Ricky Tiedemann quickly became the Blue Jays’ top prospect after a terrific 2022 season. However, his career has been rough since the start of the 2023 season. He’s dealt with numerous injuries to his pitching arm (bicep, elbow, and now a forearm) and poor performances, which issues with his command.
After pitching just one inning in his return to the Buffalo Bisons prior to the All-Star break, Tiedemann left the game due to a forearm injury and was placed on the 7-Day Injured List, the second such stint (having been placed on it due to an elbow issue earlier in the season.)
It seemed like good news, as TSN’s Scott Mitchell reported that there was no structural damage and that he’d return at some point this season.
However, two hours later, MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson reported that Tiedemann is getting a second opinion on his elbow in the coming days.
That isn’t great for various reasons, and hopefully it doesn’t lead to Toronto’s top prospect being sidelined long-term.

Zach Britton retires

One of the most electric players in the Blue Jays farm system has hung up his cleats, according to the transaction page.
On Friday, Toronto’s fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft, Zach Britton, retired. Starting his professional career in 2021, Britton slashed .225/.372/.371 with seven homers in 333 plate appearances for a 112 wRC+ with the Dunedin Blue Jays.
His best season came in 2022 though, as he slashed .238/.381/.444 with 10 homers in 312 plate appearances, along with a 17 BB% and a 27.9 K% between High-A and Double-A. His 133 wRC+ that season was the sixth-highest among players in the organization with 100 or more plate appearances.
Unfortunately, Britton spent most of the 2023 season on the Injured List, appearing in just 17 games for the Fisher Cats where he slashed .218/.427/.309 with a homer in 75 plate appearances, along with a 26.7 BB% and a 21.3 K% for a 120 wRC+.
Britton returned in 2024, also with the Fisher Cats, where he slashed .205/.290/.312 with four homers in 231 plate appearances, along with a 9.1 BB% and a 32 K%.

Bo Bichette left Friday’s game, Joey Votto scratched before Buffalo’s game

Even more bad news for the Blue Jays organization, as two players were pulled from their respective game.
The bad news started prior to the start of the Buffalo Bisons’ game, as Joey Votto was set to make his Blue Jays’ Triple-A debut, but was scratched due to an ankle injury he suffered in his pre-game workout. We’ll know more on Saturday.
To make matters worse, Bo Bichette was pulled in the sixth inning of Friday’s game with an apparent calf injury. After the game, it was reported that he was getting an MRI on the calf, which has been causing him issues all season, including a 10-day Injured List stint earlier this season.
Hopefully, it’s nothing serious, as despite his struggles this season, Bichette’s bat is important in the Blue Jays’ lineup.

Blue Jays may be willing to trade players under contract past the 2024 season

Take this with a grain of salt, but Jon Morosi reported that the Blue Jays will “consider trade offers for players under contract beyond 2024”, and not just trading their rentals.
It’s been reported that the Blue Jays plan to contend next season, but are nine games below .500 and well out of the Wild Card race. It’s expected that they’ll sell off expiring free agents such as Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Kevin Kiermaier, Yimi García, Trevor Richards, and maybe even Danny Jansen.
However, it’d be a bit surprising if the Jays decide to trade players under control for another year. Morosi alluded to Chris Bassitt, who will be under contract for the 2025 season making $21 million, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Chad Green could perhaps also be on the move in this scenario.
General manager Ross Atkins has held his ground regarding Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, noting that it doesn’t make any sense to trade those players. In reality, it does if they don’t plan on re-signing them, but if they wish to contend next season, keeping those two (and maybe even Danny Jansen) is a must.

Could the Twins be interested in Yusei Kikuchi

Speaking of soon-to-be free agents that could be on the move, the Minnesota Twins could be interested in Yusei Kikuchi according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic.
Hayes reports that there have been rumblings in the organization about the team wanting to acquire a rental starter. Hayes points to Kikuchi as one of those players, but this appears to be more of an assumption than a rumour.
It’s almost certain that Kikuchi will be traded at the deadline, as he’d get the biggest haul out of any player the Jays could trade at the deadline – except for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette. This season, Kikuchi has a 4.42 ERA and a 3.69 FIP in 106 innings pitched, along with a 26 K% and a 5.8 BB%.
After a dismal first season with the Blue Jays and four seasons of struggling to pitch well in the big leagues, Kikuchi has really come into his own over the last season and a half. It’d suck to see him traded.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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