4:54pm: Toronto will pay half of Richard’s $3MM salary, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com suggests.
4:15pm: Both teams have announced the trade. The Blue Jays are also getting cash considerations in the deal.
3:55pm: Richard’s going to Toronto, Nicholson-Smith tweets. The Blue Jays will give up minor leaguer outfielder Connor Panas, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. The 25-year-old Panas, a Toronto native whom the Blue Jays chose in the ninth round of the 2015 draft, got his first taste of Double-A action last season and hit .232/.296/.359 with nine home runs in 407 plate appearances.
3:35pm: The Blue Jays are close to acquiring left-hander Clayton Richard from the Padres, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports. Richard has been in limbo since the Padres designated him for assignment on Dec. 20.
The 35-year-old Richard has been a useful starter at times since his major league career began with the White Sox in 2008, but he’s now coming off an ugly season. Over 158 2/3 innings and 27 starts in San Diego, Richard pitched to a 5.33 ERA/4.68 FIP with 6.13 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 before undergoing season-ending left knee surgery in late August. On the bright side, Richard posted an excellent groundball rate (56.8 percent), which has been a staple throughout his time in the majors.
Needless to say, Richard – who’s owed a guaranteed $3MM in 2019, the last season of a two-year contract – wouldn’t be a particularly exciting acquisition for Toronto. If healthy, though, he could eat innings for a retooling Blue Jays team which may have multiple questions in its rotation next season. The Jays look to have four-fifths of their rotation set with Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Ryan Borucki and the just-signed Matt Shoemaker in the fold. However, Stroman has frequented trade rumors throughout the offseason, Sanchez battled injury and performance issues from 2017-18, and Shoemaker was neither healthy nor especially effective with the Angels over the previous couple years.
fasbal1
Padres must be posturing for a bigger move..
socalbum
addition by subtraction
Yankeepatriot
Agreed lol
fasbal1
Sometimes the best move
martiny44
More mopping up energy.
Syndergaarden Cop
what a joke. why would anyone want him? hes garbage
jimmertee
Jays will take anyone’s garbage.
Look who they have used over the last 2 years “trying to be “competative” : Latos, Howell, Campos, Floyd, Girado, Feldman, Hutchinson, Vendeitte, Aoki, Bolsinger, Coghlan, Harrell, House, Refsynder, Sparkman, Valdez, Beliveau, Laurence,; it just doesn’t stop.
AN Elite Gm would have traded the farm by now [with exceptions] and had a playoff competative team ready to go.
Hope Richard has a bounce back year at 34 yrs old.
Help me out here, do people actually want to pay money for tickets or cable to see guys like this [Merrweather, Pannone, Showmaker, Gaviglio, Drake] play?
MWeller77
Drake is huge in Toronto
Wait, not that Drake? Never mind then
jimmertee
Lol. Wrong sport. Go Raptors go.
jimmertee
Sorry, 35 yers old and 5.33 Era last year. Huh?
sdpadsfan11
Richard played through injuries last season. With that being said, he will be an inning eater with mid 4 ERA when healthy.
stell
Well you want them to tank. They still need pitchers to eat up the tanking innings.
iverbure
Jimmer has scout eyes not GM eyes
davidcoonce74
Richard was hurt also because he’s a groundball pitcher and the Padres infield defense, except for Galvis, was bad last season. He’s a serviceable fifth starter; might actually be useful as a long reliever in a bullpenning strategy, since his splits aren’t completely crazy – he’s relatively effective against righties.
Monty725
No!!!
BlueJayFan1515
He has a time traveling machine? “The 35-year-old has been a useful starter at times..”
jimmertee
I do have a time travelling machine. How else am I such a good scout?
wrigleywannabe
If only your spelling was competitive.
JayBiz33
An elite gym would of traded the farm…. lol. What a joke…..
terrymesmer
Jimmertee, he of the #paranormaleyes, got zero upvotes and 15 downvotes! Quel malheur! So I looked up a few things.
> Look who they have used over the last 2 years “trying to be “competative” :
Most of the players listed were minor leaguers, waiver claims, or were signed to MiLB contracts. That is, the usual bounceback candidates or org filler that every team uses to plug injury holes. None of these fine fellows blocked people Jimmer fails to name: Bautista, Donaldson, Stroman, Osuna, Smoak, Russell, Happ, Estrada, Tepera, Teoscar, Diaz, Pillar, Grichuk, McKinney, Gurriel, Oh, Joe Smith…
terrymesmer
@ Jimmertee, specifics:
> Look who they have used over the last 2 years “trying to be “competative” :
Hutchinson: The Jays have never used a player named Hutchinson. They did have a fellow named Drew Hutchison, but not in the 2017-18 window Jimmer cackled about.
Girado: There has never been an MLB player named Girado. The Jays did have a fellow named Chad Girodo.
Vendeitte: There has never been an MLB player named Vendeitte. The Jays did have a fellow named Pat Venditte, but not in the 2017-18 window Jimmer cackled about.
Have I made my point yet? Or should I go on?
#scoutseyescanteffingspellorlookstuffup
outinleftfield
Because he takes the ball every 5th day. Had 172 more innings and 10 more QS than your namesake the past 2 seasons.
Comrade Tipsy McStagger
I wouldn’t accept anything less than Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff.
nmendoza7
No offense to Mr. Richard but the Blue Jays are aiming severely low this off season.
Christian Larsen
Seems like it
big evil
yeah the Blue jays 2019 outlook does look a bit confusing, but nonetheless he can have quality starts and he’s affordable.
xabial
Setting up Gray acquisition 😉
Ryan W
He’s already dfa’d
xabial
He had a replacement in mind; One SP for another.
Many of you were asking why not Pirela?
Now we know why. Gray is a monumental upgrade.
Cashford64
What on Earth would the Padres want with Sonny Gray for one year?
SanDiegoTom
Let balsley fix him and possibly flip him at the deadline…
outinleftfield
@xabial 4.59 ERA vs 4.76 ERA the last 3 seasons. 409.2 IP vs 423.2 IP over that period. Not such a monumental improvement. More like an incremental improvement. Two #5 starters that both spent some time in the pen. Ho hum.
jbigz12
There’s sonny gray shaming and then there’s just blatant nonsense. Clayton Richard is a horrific pitcher outside of Petco Park. Let Sonny Gray go to Petco I have no doubt he’ll toss up a mid 3 Era like he did Oakland. There’s overvaluing of Gray going on but when you start w nonsense like this it’s just as bad as the Yankees fans. Also we can use better measure than ERA going forward when comping 2 pitchers.
Christian Larsen
Should only cost a bag of peanuts
GB85
I hope we’re only giving up Stroman’s jock strap for this guy…
Yankeepatriot
Jays have nothing to lose with this. If he still stinks they just bury him in the pen as a mop up guy or let him go
flippinbats79
Asking price is believed to be a Timmy’s gift card. Padres are holding out for Mark’s Work Warehouse.
Monty725
Lmao!!
its_happening
Well done Flip. Only Canadians with a sense of humour appreciates your comment.
nypadre66
The Timmy’s gift card would be worth more than Richard. And useful all across Ontario and NY.
DockEllisDee
they just brought Timmy’s to me here in cincy, OH a couple years ago.. omg what a godsend to my mornings
bucketbrew35
Precursor to another move. Jays are gonna ship out one of their starters soon.
Monty725
Probably right but this is pathetic!! I’m only going to the ballpark once this year and that’s to see Vladdy Jr. Maybe twice if they bring up Bichette.
SuperSinker
I’m sure you had plans to go to all 81 home games
Monty725
At least 10-15 every year…
iverbure
Why do fans think not going to the ballpark has any outcome on the team whatsoever? The jays and every other team outside of maybe Tampa will still make money if only a handful of fans show up every game. Tickets don’t matter to teams. The money is made from tv contracts. You want Rogers to notice cancel your Rogers cable package, oh yeah that won’t matter either unless you have a million friends who do it too.
The downswing of the team is not surprising to anyone intelligent if you were paying attention to the trades in 2015 and 2016. But the same people who wanted Jose, and Edwin signed to blank cheques are the same people who don’t understand aging curves and thought this ride was going to continue and it just wasn’t realistic. Jays coulda signed JD Martinez and Arrieta and spent lots of money to finish 4th last year but wisely lied to the simpletons and told them they were going to try to be competitive. All the jays best players had awful yrs anyway last year how on earth would spending a bunch of money to free agents all of whom are terribly overpaid Anyway and furthermore because you have turf and play in Canada overpay them more just to get them to Toronto.
The jays will win when they actually develop a bunch of homegrown players. Even when they made the playoffs they didn’t do that. Having sustainable success in mlb is having waves of young players who come up and populate the roster. It’s not signing free agents to lengthily muti year deals like all the fans think it is.
its_happening
^Checked out after sentence 3. First two weren’t compelling enough to hang in strong with this long comment.
thelastonetodie
Agreed.. glad they never gave contracts to edwin and Jose
its_happening
They did. Bailed Jose out after turning down the QO. Offered Edwin a contract he turned down.
wrigleywannabe
So, you’re a fair weather fan.
wrigleywannabe
That’s longer than I gave you
iverbure
Lol Must’ve educated trim about something he didn’t know about now he’s hurt inside.
outinleftfield
It’s tough to hang with intelligent comments when your IQ is lower than Tulo’s jersey number.
its_happening
Seldom right and wrong again Iver. Make sure you use your new nickname #goutseyes next time and I’ll read your fiction.
bdallen714
Bichette is ok, I say watch out for Biggios kid, saw him play Minor League ball, he looked sharp. Going to miss see Panas hit the ball in Double A, saw him hit 2 decent HRs this year.
BStereo9
Ew
ellisburks
I am looking forward to watching the Red Sox face that rotation live in the SkyDome.
Yankeepatriot
The east will light up Richard to oblivion…. we’ll except the O’s
GB85
The O’s will make him look like Kluber…
outinleftfield
Yankees hit .248 vs LHP, Red Sox .250, Rays hit .256, and my O’s, .235.
jbigz12
Notably lefties in the ALE. Chris Sale, JA happ, David Price, Blake Snell………Clayton Richard? Yeah he’s right there. I’m sure the man with an abysmal ERA outside of Petco will thrive in Toronto against those squads. BTW average Major league BA is .249
jimmertee
Help me out here, do people actually want to pay money for tickets or cable to see guys like this [Merryweather, Pannone, Shoemaker, Gaviglio, Drake] play?
GB85
It’s a rebuilding year bud, you already know this.
flippinbats79
The only thing worse than a rebuilding year are the fans that don’t understand it
PhanaticDuck26
nice 1
jdgoat
The guy calling for a rebuild two years ago is now ticked off that their rebuilding. God you actually are a pretty good troll.
stell
You like repeating yourself in text jimmer? I would hate to have a conversation with you.
iverbure
#scoutseyes
ellisburks
Even as a Red Sox fan in Toronto, this year’s team will be more fun to watch than last year because they will be younger, more athletic and building towards respectability rather than patching it together like 2018.
Dkaner
Blue Jays are desperate for a innings eater and they might be moving one of their top guys for a hefty return. They are 4th place team so they need to rip apart and start over. Boston NY TB all much better so get it done now!
GB85
I agree, Jays aren’t gonna compete with the AL East teams for a few years, these stop-gap moves are necessary and to be expected.
iverbure
This notion the jays need a full tear down now is false. How many more years can they manipulate Vlad jrs service time? He’s gonna be up in May barring a injury. After this year Martin Morales Smoak money all off the books. Now this year they hope to see Jansen, Tellez, gurriel, McKinney and others develop into big league regulars
wrigleywannabe
You kind of contradicted your own point
its_happening
Contradiction is Ivers trademark.
iverbure
How did I contradict myself?
iverbure
Yeah didn’t think you would respond
RedRooster
Interesting. Is San Diego paying any of Richard’s contract?
clrrogers 2
Some of it, it looks like.
hockeyjohn
The article above says cash considerations.
RedRooster
They put that in after I posted my comment bruh
Soldierofgod619
Richard was DFA because of the Ian Kinsler signing so glad the team got someone for him. Saves us about 3m next year.
Ryan W
Half that, but yeah
RedRooster
Looks like Panas was unprotected and unselected in Rule 5 this offseason so probably won’t ever contribute. Still better than nothing and certainly better than paying Richard $3m to play for someone else.
padreforlife
Padres end up paying 4.5 mil for over 5 era pitcher 1 year wonderful
thebighurt619
Good now trade or dfa Bryan Mitchell Robbie Erlin and trade Yates, Stammen, clear the OF and let’s give the young kids a chance to play.
Regardless what happens this season I wanna see tatis jr urias lucchessi Lauer Nix quantril etc majority of the season to prep for 2020.
Ron marker
Bunch of troll nerds
jimmertee
Panas is a genuine prospect, albeit not a high level one. He is going no where in Toronto with the Young guys taking all the innings.
I want to see Hernandez get innings and sort out his defenisve blunders, lets see ALford get 250 ab’s at least, Let’s see what Dwight SMith Jr can do at lead off, and Mckinney Jr is either going to take the next step in his development or be the Platoon player I think he is. Grichuk will be Grichuk.
iverbure
Panas is a genuine prospect??? Wut? It’s impossible on most days to find anything you say that’s right. It’s remarkable. I’m legitimately thinking your the best troll account I’ve ever seen.
its_happening
Although Iverbure lacks basic human judgement he is right about Panas. He was never a prospect, and if he was ever ranked it says more about the AA regime lacking player development.
Alford has to show he can handle AAA. He ain’t Moseby. He’s barely Ryan Thompson or Anthony Sanders right now. If the Jays deal Pillar I want Alford to play CF. But there’s no urgency since Alford has done zip in AAA.
jimmertee
Trim, I am still in Alford’s corner. I think he can be very good, very Mo;seby like or better but he needs to play a lot in centre field, preferably in the big leagues.
jimmertee
Iverbure, thanks I guess. lol.
I like Panas and apparently San Deigo does too. I like him as a prospect, but not a high celing guy. I thinkl he can 4th outfielder on a MLB club as a late bloomer.
disgruntledreader 2
No.
outinleftfield
He far from being a legitimate prospect. He grades out as a 30 FV prospect and was not in the Jays top 50 prospects. The Padres have 62 players that rate a 35 FV or higher. 62 or more guys that are in front of Panas on his new team’s organizational chart. I watched him play in Dunedin last season and saw a guy that played good defense and occasionally ran into a pitch, but SO 100 times in about 400 AB in high A at age 24. A league where he was more than a year older than the average player. If you are not dominating in A+ ball at 24, something is wrong with you or you are on a rehab assignment.
PinstripedPride
Who is San Diego acquiring now…. Sonny Gray?
outinleftfield
Panas and Pirela are going to the Yankees for Gray.
dvmin98
Wait, so did someone actually acquire Richard and his $3 million salary? Nice job Preller…and he got a lottery ticket to boot
xabial
$1.5 million* salary. Padres covering half of his salary.
dvmin98
That’s still better than zero…and they updated that after my post
Toolsy McUpside
I can’t be the only one to see “Connor Panas” and go right to an anagram solver.
For Padres fans: A PRO’S CANNON (sadly, reports seem to say his arm is average)
For Jays fans: ANON CRAP, SON (harsh…sorry, Connor)
bigguccisosa300
I think you’re the only one bud
Yankeepatriot
Richard is so bad the jays won’t even take his measly 3 million salary lmao
jdgoat
They don’t really have a lefty option out of the pen so maybe Richard showed something that he can be effective in short stints.
iverbure
Exactly what I was thinking. He’ll likely start at the beginning of the season get lite up and eventually will be turned into a LRP. He’ll take Loup’s spot as the fans most hated player on the team.
The fans most hated player is always the 2nd lefty out of the pen or the back up catcher. Back up catcher because they blame losses on him because he hits .200 avg as if that matters. You can go around to every thread and find irrational hate for every back up catcher on every team from people who can’t even spell WAR let alone know it’s meaning
its_happening
Decent move. Even if Richard gets ripped in the AL East. Jays gave up nothing. Panas is a nothing prospect. At $1.5-mil that’s decent.
iverbure
The same people who liked Jaime Garcia at 8 mil last year probably hate this move. Given the going rate for 5th starter who is a inning eater is 8-10 mil this is a great move. At worst he becomes a much needed left handed RP who are always wanted come the deadline.
jbigz12
Clayton Richard outside of petco is a bad starter. There’s no reason to think moving to the ALE while pitching in multiple hitters parks is going to be a successful move. The cost is 1.5 million which is essentially nothing in baseball dollars but I don’t think there’s anyway you see this guy have success in your rotation. I would’ve been happier with another rebound guy off the scrap heap of FA.
its_happening
I don’t see this guy in the rotation, period. Unless injuries happen. Richard immediately screams situational lefty. Anything more would either mean drastic injuries or nonsense thinking from the front office.
Stroman
Sanchez
Shoemaker
Borucki
Open spot between Reid-Foley, Thornton, Paulino, Pannone
Strike Four
Stroman and Sanchez might not be on the team much longer.
jbigz12
Assuming health for shoe and Sanchez especially is no certainty. No doubt Richard will find himself in that rotation eventually. I could see Stroman dealt as well. They’re better off rolling Red-Foley or Pannone out there but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in there.
Joeypower
Oh gosh get me a rope and tree!!! Our front office is killing us!
holecamels35
Probably will have an ERA near 8 in that division if they give him more than a dozen starts.
jasonpen
He’s not that bad… 8 starts last year of 2 or less earned runs.
Strike Four
8 out of 27 is very bad. Sorry.
outinleftfield
Padres are either committing to the youth movement or they are really sure they are going to get a front line starter that can eat the innings they got from Richard in 2018. He led their team in innings, QS, and QS% last season, so the Blue Jays are getting a decent swingman for $1.5 million. Padres literally got nothing in return other than the savings on his salary because Panas is all defense and no bat and will never sniff the majors.
RedRooster
lmfao
jbigz12
Clayton Richard is literally only a decent starter in petco. His numbers outside of petco are bad. There’s about 10 guys still FA who will sign for a few million bucks with more upside than the 35 year old Richard.
silverbackjack
Another pitcher that hasn’t been good in years. killer…
Strike Four
Baseball-Reference has Richard at CAREER 1.2 WAR – over 10 years! Fangraphs likes him a little more, at 8.4, but this guy is AAAA and somehow has stuck around as an innings eater. Why did the Jays do this.
jbigz12
They traded away a guy who isn’t even a 4A player. They gave nothing up but 1.5 MM in salary. That’s not much if they think he can give him them anything. Terrible starter outside of Petco but he doesn’t have to do much to be worth that small sum. I would’ve preferred another reclamation project off the scrap heap but they went this way
coldbeer
To eat innings during a losing season. What difference does it make?