The Toronto Blue Jays made a couple of minor moves on April 20th, placing impact RP Chad Green on the 15-day IL while also trading recently-DFA’d RP Mitch White to the San Francisco Giants.
Unfortunate Green Injury Provides Opening for Fireballer RP
RP Chad Green was placed on the injured list with a strain of the teres major muscle located in the upper back area, specifically below the shoulder. Green served as one of Toronto’s back-end relievers during the absence of CP Jordan Romano and RP Erik Swanson at the beginning of the campaign. The 33-year-old has maintained a 2.35 ERA in 7 games this season, despite issues with the long ball (2.35 HR/9 in 2024, highest mark in career since 2016).
As a corresponding move, the Blue Jays recalled RP Nate Pearson. Pearson hasn’t yielded a single earned run during 2024, while registering a career-high in K% at 34.6%. The fireballer has also seen improvements in launch angle and average exit velocity allowed, tallying career-bests in both categories (12 degrees for launch angle, 86.7 MPH average exit velocity). Pearson’s main reason for improvement has been his development in breaking pitches. The curveball has seen significant increases in vertical and horizontal break, resulting in the 50% Whiff% for the 2024 season. Pearson will look to continue to provide quality innings for the Blue Jays.
Mitch White Traded to Giants for Cash
The Blue Jays traded P Mitch White to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations. White put up a lacklustre 5.40 ERA through 4 contests in the 2024 campaign. However, with all of the injuries to starting pitchers thus far, a veteran 2nd-round pick in White would generate interest from opposing ball clubs. The 29-year-old put up a 3.00 ERA in 9 starts in AAA Buffalo to cap off the 2023 season. White also touched 97 MPH multiple times during 2024 Spring Training.
White arrived to the Blue Jays during the 2022 trade deadline in a trade with the Dodgers that sent him and prospect Alex De Jesus to Toronto in exchange for pitching prospects Nick Frasso and Moises Brito. De Jesus has had multiple 100+ wRC+ seasons in A/A+ in the Blue Jays system, but it’s hardly enough to make up for what Toronto lost in Nick Frasso. Frasso is now the Dodgers’ 2nd-ranked prospect (per MLB.com) while tallying multiple 10+ K/9 seasons in A/AA. The Mitch White trade may have turned out to be a complete disaster for Toronto.
Wrapping Things Up
Chad Green heading to the IL is a huge issue for the Blue Jays bullpen, considering that Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson are not fully immersed in the 2024 campaign. However, Nate Pearson’s early success could allow him to be a substantial part of the Blue Jays bullpen going forward. Meanwhile, Mitch White’s trade to the Giants was a wise move, as the demand for veteran starting pitchers has skyrocketed due to injuries around the league. The Blue Jays likely would have lost the versatile pitcher to any of the other 29 ball clubs via outright waivers.