Andrés Giménez is on his way.
The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a deal on Tuesday to trade for second baseman Giménez from the Cleveland Guardians, the teams announced. The Blue Jays also received pitcher Nick Sandlin in the deal.
In return, the Guardians received infielder Spencer Horwitz, though they didn’t keep him long. Cleveland reached a deal to send Horwitz to the Pittsburgh Pirates later Tuesday night. In return, the Guardians received Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy.
A three-time Gold Glove winner, Giménez has spent the past four seasons with the Guardians after getting his start in the league in 2020 with the New York Mets. He had a .252 batting average and nine home runs with 63 RBI last season. while helping the Guardians reach the ALCS for the first time since their World Series trip in 2016. He stole a career-high 30 bases in each of the past two seasons and quickly became one of the better defensive players in the league.
Giménez signed a seven-year, $106.5 million deal with the Guardians ahead of the 2023 campaign that will see him through the 2030 season.
The 26-year-old will now join the Blue Jays, who have not won a playoff series since 2016. Last season they went 74-88, second under manager John Schneider, and finished last in the AL East for the first time. since 2013. They will pick eighth overall in the MLB Draft next summer.
Sandlin went a perfect 8-0 in 68 appearances on the mound for Cleveland last season, his fourth with the team. The 27-year-old has posted a 3.75 ERA in each of the last two seasons. Horwitz had a .265 batting average with 12 home runs and 40 RBI last season with the Blue Jays, both career highs.
The Blue Jays’ deal for Giménez marked their second major move on Tuesday. They agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with right-hander Yimi García earlier in the day. García spent part of last season with Toronto before being dealt to the Seattle Mariners ahead of the trade deadline in July. He finished the season on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation. He is expected to be healthy by the start of the 2025 season. García had a 2.70 ERA in 29 appearances with the Blue Jays last season.
