The Toronto Blue Jays are trading outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Colorado Rockies for left fielder Raimel Tapia and minor-league infielder Adrian Pinto, per multiple reports Thursday.
For the Rockies, it’s an opportunity to add another bat with notable power to a lineup that will largely be carried by new acquisition, Kris Bryant in 2022. Grichuk hit 22 home runs in 149 games last season with the Blue Jays but smacked a career-best 31 in 2019.
He’s averaged 23 home runs and 64 RBI over the last six seasons with 162-game averages of 30 home runs and 85 RBI.
Colorado’s offense could use as much offensive help as possible, especially considering they let star shortstop Trevor Story walk in free agency where he signed with the Boston Red Sox.
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In return for Grichuk, Toronto gets a 28-year-old light-hitting who has struggled with inconsistencies throughout his six-year career.
After showing promise that he was turning the corner in 2020, slashing .321/.369/.402 (.772 OPS), Tapia’s production in 2021 dropped to .273/.327/.372 (.699 OPS) with 20 stolen bases. In 439 career games, he has just 19 home runs with a .280 batting average.
Pinto wasn’t rated as one of the Rockies’ top prospects by MLB.com, but the 19-year-old infielder batted .360 with three home runs and 27 RBI over 54 games in rookie ball last season.
