Blue Jays and Astros complete 10 player trade

According to bluejays.com, the Toronto Blue Jays have acquired LHP J.A. Happ, RHP Brandon Lyon and RHP David Carpenter for OF Ben Francisco, RHP Francisco Cordero, RHP Asher Wojciechowski, RHP Joe Musgrove, LHP David Rollins, C Carlos Perez and a player to be named later.

Travis Snider has (mercifully) been recalled from AAA to take Ben Francisco’s roster spot.

More details and analysis to follow.

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Updates:
J.A.Happ is a starting pitcher who will be under team control and arbitration eligible through the 2014 season while Lyon, a reliever, is a free agent at the end of 2012. Due to the changes to the new CBA, the Blue Jays will not receive a compensation draft pick for Lyon should he sign elsewhere for 2013. David Carpenter has reportedly been assigned to AAA Las Vegas where he will pitch out of the bullpen.

(Note: John Lott of the National Post reports that Happ will be used initially out of the bullpen)

Going the other way are under-performing “proven closer” Francisco Cordero, under-used and superfluous 5th outfielder Ben Francisco and prospects.

The prospects are, obviously, the key to this deal for the Astros and I can’t help but feel that that this was an overpay on the part of the Blue Jays.

Wojciechowski was rated the 10th best prospect in the Blue Jays system coming into this season (Per Baseball America) down from #6 a year ago. He was a 1st Round Supplemental draft pick (41st overall) in the 2010 first year player draft and he was repeating with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League.

Joe Musgrove was also a 1st Round Supplemental draft pick (46th overall), but in 2011. He has appeared in only 2 games (one starting, one relief) in 2012, both for the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League.

David Rollins was selected in the 24th round (739th overall) of the 2011 draft. He started 18 games for the Lansing Lugnuts in 2012 where he pitched effectively, though he is fairly old for the Midwest League at 22.

Carlos Perez, in his second attempt in the Midwest League, has boasted a characteristically good on base percentage and reportedly excellent receiving skills. It is quite possible that he becomes the best player involved in this trade in either direction, but with the Blue Jays collection of talented catchers above Perez on the depth chart, it can be argued that he was expendable.

The Player to be Named Later is likely to be an unimportant piece, as rules forbid a draftee to be traded within 1 year of signing, and also state that PTBNLs must be agreed upon within 6 months (though, I do concede that either of these rules may have changed in the recent CBA) it will not be a 2012 draftee, but rather a smaller piece or the ever popular cash considerations.

Though the Blue Jays gave up comparatively little in this trade, without an additional move being made this seems to be a puzzling move for Alex Anthopolous.

Brandon E.M. Savage
Brandon's just this guy, you know?