Shortstop Paul DeJong traded to Blue Jays
As the deadline draws within sight, a late flurry of activity sees the St Louis Cardinals trade shortstop Paul DeJong to Toronto for a prospect and cash.
The St Louis Cardinals were expected to offer up Paul DeJong, but they waited until the last possible second to actually pull the trigger on the trade. The payment? A pitching prospect and cash.
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired DeJong and are expected to waste no time in putting their man to work, fielding him in Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
In exchange, they will send 24-year-old relief pitching prospect Matt Svanson down the river. This season he has worked at low and high-A ball, posting a 1.11 ERA in 32.1 innings. Toronto also sent cash to St Louis as part of the deal.
While DeJong isn’t the best offensive shortstop around, he is a solid defensive glove and his 13 homers and 32 RBIs while slashing .233/.297/.412 may belie latent ability. He was an All-Star in 2019 and with pickings for middle infielders slim this trade period, the Jays may have gotten the best that they could have done.
Outfielder Jordan Luplow has been designated for assignment in order to shuffle around and make room for DeJong on the Jays’ roster. DeJong currently has and option for both 2024 and 2025, worth $12.5 million and $15 million respectively and a $2 million and $1 million buyout.