Rather a lot occurred on a frantic deadline day, so that you wouldn’t be blamed for lacking out on this commerce between the Dodgers and Blue Jays that got here collectively down the stretch. However we at FanGraphs are devoted to overlaying each deadline transaction, regardless of how small or seemingly insignificant. It is a four-player deal, with every group concerned receiving two of them. Right here’s the fundamental breakdown:
Blue Jays get:
Dodgers get:
First, let’s break down the Jays’ return. As anticipated, an incredible scramble occurred on the deadline for the restricted quantity of beginning pitching obtainable. Some groups, just like the Yankees and Twins, emerged as clear winners. Others, just like the Phillies, needed to accept the second-best however nonetheless respectable choices. Then we’ve the Blue Jays, who ended up with White. It’s comprehensible if this seems like a disappointing pickup, and whereas it’s higher than nothing in any respect, with the best maneuvers, they might have accomplished a lot better.
On the very least, White has expertise beginning within the majors. Previous to the commerce, he served because the Dodgers’ five-and-dive starter and put up admirable outcomes, with a 3.47 ERA and 4.06 FIP in 46.2 innings. That’s partially as a result of his group seldom lets him face the order for a 3rd time, however it’s additionally the purpose: For 4 or 5 innings, White does his job on the mound after which heads again to the dugout. With José Berríos and Yusei Kikuchi nonetheless in the hunt for consistency and Hyun Jin Ryu out for the season, White’s presence supplies some respite for the Blue Jays.
Repertoire-wise, White throws as much as 5 pitches, although solely three of them are noteworthy. The four-seam fastball, his major providing, has about league-average velocity (93–95 mph) and is characterised by poor form. He’s weirdly gotten a ton of outs with it this season regardless of the dearth of motion, although whether or not that’s on account of luck stays to be seen. The slider, his secondary providing, is genuinely nice, that includes two-plane break and strong velocity for a breaking ball (84–86 mph). Opposing hitters agree; when swinging at it, they’ve whiffed 33.8% of the time up to now. White will generally remind us of his low-80s curveball, however he typically lacks correct really feel for the pitch.
The Blue Jays additionally get to take an opportunity on De Jesus, who was the Forty third-best Dodgers prospect on our board previous to the commerce. A 20-year-old, switch-hitting third baseman from the Dominican Republic, his claim-to-fame is his uncooked energy from a steep bat path. However it leaves him weak to a wide range of pitches; as proof, all you want is a take a look at his ghastly strikeout charges. Together with his younger age and lack of expertise towards superior pitching, De Jesus is basically a lottery ticket: he might sooner or later hit sufficient house runs as an enormous leaguer to compensate for his swing-and-miss, or the absence of a software moreover uncooked energy may very well be his demise. He’s a one-trick pony for now, however it’s a enjoyable trick!
With Andrew Heaney getting back from the injured record and White out of minor league choices, the Dodgers now not had a necessity for his or her back-end starter. As a substitute, they’ve parlayed him into an electrical pitching prospect in Frasso. However for a change, let’s record the explanations to be skeptical of him. Frasso is 23 — younger, however contemplating that he’s nonetheless in A-ball, probably not; he misplaced treasured years of growth as a result of pandemic and Tommy John surgical procedure in 2021. His command remains to be questionable, and again when he was drafted, his secondaries lagged compared to his fastball.
However Frasso additionally hasn’t misplaced a step. Upon returning to the mound, he got here out firing 97–98-mph fastballs, even touching 100, according to Statcast. The form isn’t nice for a four-seamer, however Frasso might very properly be throwing a sinker. Both means, it’s no large deal. His changeup averaged 18 inches of fade (which is a tremendous quantity, even by big-league requirements), and he confirmed off a revamped breaking ball as properly. As soon as a slurve within the low-80s, it’s now a decent gyro slider within the mid-80s that had hitter after hitter down on strikes. The stuff doubtless had inner fashions going awooga.
There’s lots to admire about Frasso, however he’s not a prime pitching prospect simply but. His observe report remains to be miniscule, and there’s reliever danger till that command will get tidied up. Accordingly, Eric Longenhagen has him as a 40+ FV — a bump from his authentic grade of 35+, however understandably conservative. However that is precisely the kind of prospect the Dodgers love taking possibilities on, and one that would become the subsequent Gavin Stone. It’s no surprise they selected Frasso out of so many choices.
Alternatively, there’s little info on the market concerning Brito, the Dodgers’ different return. Fortunately, Eric got here by means of in a pinch, telling me that he’s a projectable 6-foot-5 lefty who sits 89 with a good curveball form and has a clear over-the-top supply. Numbers-wise, the 20-year-old presently has a 1.86 ERA and a couple of.17 FIP in 29 Dominican Summer time League innings. Possibly the Dodgers like him for some particular purpose, however it’s exhausting to inform as an outsider. Alternatively, he may need been a throw-in to stability out the commerce.
With three low-level prospects concerned within the deal, figuring out which group “received” the deal is each unattainable and pointless. On a fundamental stage, the Blue Jays bought a much-needed starter who’s additionally underneath 5 years of group management, and we will assume the Dodgers collected just a few pitching prospects that piqued their curiosity. Nothing groundbreaking right here, however not each commerce will be blockbuster. And if something, ensure to maintain your eye on Frasso.
