Toronto Blue Jays INF/OF Otto Lopez has been traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations. Lopez, 25, never had a consistent amount of playing time with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2021-2023. In 9 career MLB games, Lopez tallied an inflated 1.236 OPS with 3 RBIs. He’s been able to play both SS and every OF position throughout his tenure in the minors. The former 8th-ranked prospect in the Blue Jays organization was designated for assignment after the signing of Yariel Rodriguez, but before Lopez could be placed on waivers, Toronto’s front office was able to get something for him via trade.
How Substantial is this Lopez Trade?
Many Blue Jays fans may think that this is a move of minimal importance, but it is possible that the Lopez deal is much more substantial than it seems. The idea of Jays INF Santiago Espinal heading to San Fran in exchange for a consistent Austin Slater had been pitched by Blue Jays Insider Ben Nicholson-Smith. Top-40 MLB prospect Marco Luciano is to get the SS job for the Giants, but since he’s only a rookie, there could be some growing pains defensively. Otto Lopez could be the player to provide SF with some much-needed infield depth, making the Espinal trade highly unlikely and taking a solid Austin Slater off the board.
Wrapping It Up
San Francisco obtaining an infielder to complement a developing Marco Luciano essentially means that they have no use for INF Santiago Espinal. The largest issue is that another potential option in Austin Slater could be off the table. Ross Atkins and Toronto’s front office will need to look elsewhere in order to salvage this incredibly underwhelming offseason.