Jays acquire Jordan Hicks

[hyper316]

I'm not the biggest fan of Hicks, who hasn't gotten the greatest results despite his stuff. At the same time, the Cardinals -- who used to be regarded as one of, if not the best pitching development teams in baseball -- have really struggled in recent years to get the most out of their high-octane arms, and Hicks has utterly ludicrous stuff. It's not merely that he throws 102, he throws 102 and gives up very little power, which is a great combination.

He has no clue where his pitches are going but there’s value in having a guy like this to blow teams away when you really need a strikeout late in a game. He is both incredibly hard to make contact off and square up. Would be better if we had a manager that knew how to use him properly though.

Definitely bring Hicks in with no base runners. Inheriting base runners and prone to walks is gonna be disastrous

[Raps in 4]

You think maybe we made this deal, because Jordan Romano injury might be more pressing/serious than what's being reported. Couldn't pitch allstar game, and first few games after it, then did, but has been shaky for a bit, before going on the IL. Maybe they got ahead of it and have a closing option instead of looking internal closing by committee duties?

Our bullpen needed more guys who can get strikeouts, regardless of Romano's status.

[Cyrus]

You think maybe we made this deal, because Jordan Romano injury might be more pressing/serious than what's being reported. Couldn't pitch allstar game, and first few games after it, then did, but has been shaky for a bit, before going on the IL. Maybe they got ahead of it and have a closing option instead of looking internal closing by committee duties?

Our bullpen needed more guys who can get strikeouts, regardless of Romano's status.

Oh definitely, but this is so not like Atkins like move, he barely gives up control for a rental player, he may do so for a guy who has term (See: Berriors, Varsho, etc.)

[-MetA4-]

Oh definitely, but this is so not like Atkins like move, he barely gives up control for a rental player, he may do so for a guy who has term (See: Berriors, Varsho, etc.)

This is entirely an "Atkins move". Robberse and Kloffenstein have control, but they are Rule 5 eligible and need to be placed on the 40 man roster this winter. Kloffenstein in particular is a fringe-MLB player (who they likely don't want to waste a 40 man spot on) and Robberse is a low-impact guy.

This gets them an impact MLB player for a playoff run while also simplifying their winter roster decisions in terms of who needs to be protected. Yes both guys they traded are potential "depth", but control over fringe players who you need to carry on your 40-man roster isn't worth that much.

[Schad]

Yeah, I liked Robberse (honestly don't see Kloffenstein making it), but he's in that difficult middle-ground as a prospect: if he finds a couple ticks or some movement that hasn't been there previous, he could be a really solid back-end starter. But as it stands he gives up a lot of HRs at that level, and generally that's a problem that gets worse rather than better as you advance up the levels. And rostering a player like that in the hopes that they find it is always tough, given that realistically he's still a couple years away from making good, if he does at all.

[Cyrus]

Oh definitely, but this is so not like Atkins like move, he barely gives up control for a rental player, he may do so for a guy who has term (See: Berriors, Varsho, etc.)

This is entirely an "Atkins move". Robberse and Kloffenstein have control, but they are Rule 5 eligible and need to be placed on the 40 man roster this winter. Kloffenstein in particular is a fringe-MLB player (who they likely don't want to waste a 40 man spot on) and Robberse is a low-impact guy.

This gets them an impact MLB player for a playoff run while also simplifying their winter roster decisions in terms of who needs to be protected. Yes both guys they traded are potential "depth", but control over fringe players who you need to carry on your 40-man roster isn't worth that much.

Atkins hasn't really went after the rental market, all his previous deals are guys with control, moving prospects for guys with multiple years:

See Mitch white, Merrifield, Berrios, Varsho, Richards, Climber, even Bass/Stripling I believe too. Sure they've made a few prospect for rental type deals, but that's sure not the common play for Atkins.