The Toronto Blue Jays are doubling down on defence.
Days after missing out on premier free-agent slugger Juan Soto, the Blue Jays are reportedly finalizing a deal with the Cleveland Guardians to acquire sure-handed infielder Andres Gimenez, according to ESPN insider Jeff Passan.
The deal, once completed, will send the three-time Gold Glover to a team coming off a second straight AL Team Gold Glove Award. Going the other way are infielder Spencer Horwitz and minor-league outfielder Nick Mitchell, while the Blue Jays will also be acquiring right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported.
Gimenez, 26, a left-handed hitter who was once a top prospect in the New York Mets system, is coming off a season in which he batted .252 with nine home runs, 63 RBIs and 30 steals with an 82 OPS+ (100 is league average) for the Guardians.
He was an all-star in 2022 after being a part of the Francisco Lindor deal, batting .297 with 17 home runs, 69 RBIs and 20 steals with an OPS+ of 141.