OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired INF Cutter Coffey, INF Eddinson Paulino, and RHP Gilberto Batista from the Red Sox in exchange for C Danny Jansen. Welcome to our #BlueJays family!
Remembering Danny Jansen’s time with the Blue Jays
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2024, 18:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 28, 2024, 18:08 EDT
The longest-tenured Toronto Blue Jays’ time with the team came to an end on Saturday.
During Saturday’s game, multiple sources reported that the Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox were nearing a trade to send Danny Jansen to the Jays’ American League East rival. A few hours later, the trade was completed, with Toronto receiving Cutter Coffey, Eddinson Paulino, and Gilberto Batista.
Jansen was drafted all the way back in 2013 in the 16th-round out of high school, signing for a $100,000 bonus. Right off the bat, he started hitting at the pro level, before running into a rough 2015 and 2016. However, 2017 was his breakout year, as he slashed .323/.400/.484 with 10 home runs in 424 plate appearances with a 9.7 BB% and a 9.4 K% for a 150 wRC+. Jansen played in High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A that season.
The catcher’s 2018 minor league season was good as well, as he slashed .275/.390/.473 with 12 home runs in 360 plate appearances, along with a 12.2 BB% and a 13.6 K% with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. In mid-August, Jansen earned a call up to the Blue Jays, where he hit three home runs in 95 plate appearances for a 115 wRC+ and a 0.7 fWAR.
Heading into the 2019 season, Jansen ranked as the leagues’ 65th-best prospect, as well as the Jays’ third-best prospect behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. Starting the year in the big leagues, Jansen slashed .207/.279/.360 with 13 home runs in 384 plate appearances for a 69 wRC+, but was also nominated for the American League Gold Glove award at catcher.
#Rawlings #GoldGlove Award Finalists – AL C – @BlueJays Danny Jansen, @redsox Christian Vazquez, @Indians @robperez2015
Jansen struggled in COVID-shortened 2020 as he slashed .183/.313/.358 with six homers in 147 plate appearances. Those struggles carried into the first-half of the 2021 season, where he slashed .168/.256/.303 in 134 plate appearances. However, his second half was much more encouraging, slashing .323/.380/.785 with seven home runs in 71 plate appearances to help the Jays push for a postseason spot that they ultimately fell short of.
However, that seemed to be the turning point of his career, as Jansen’s 2022 season was his career-best. In 248 plate appearances, he slashed .260/.339/.516 with a then career-best 15 home runs for a 141 wRC+ and a 2.7 fWAR. Sadly, Jansen missed time with injuries in that season, a common trend throughout his career.
JANSEN WALK-OFF. 🙌 The Blue Jays win in dramatic fashion to sweep the Atlanta Braves.
Last season was a great one for Jansen as well, hitting a career-high 17 home runs, along with a .228/.312/.474 slash line for a 116 wRC+ in 301 plate appearances. Jansen started the 2024 season on the Injured List, but started the season hot as he slashed .262/.347/.469 with five home runs in his first 150 plate appearances for a 131 wRC+.
He’s cooled off significantly since June 14 though, slashing just .118/.218/.176 with a home run in 78 plate appearances for a 19 wRC+. For the season, Jansen is slashing .212/.303/.369 with six homers in 228 plate appearances, along with an 11 BB% and an 18.4 K% for a 9.3 wRC+.
Although I like the trade and it was necessary given that Jansen is a free agent at season’s end, it sucks seeing a long-serving player traded from your favourite team. Best of luck to Jansen in his time with the Red Sox.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.