The Toronto Blue Jays are off to a slow start, currently tied for last place in the American League East at 6-9. Amid those struggles, the team is adding a 20-home run bat to its lineup.
Toronto acquired infielder Lenyn Sosa from the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. In exchange, 18-year-old outfielder Jordan Rich — a 17th-round pick last year — is going to the South Side along with a player to be named later or cash.
Advertisement
Sosa, 26, had a career-best season last year, slugging 22 home runs with 20 doubles and 75 RBI with a slash line of .264/.293/.434 in 544 plate appearances. Perhaps not coincidentally, it was Sosa’s first full season in MLB, playing 140 games.
However, Sosa has also struggled to start the 2026 campaign, batting .212/.212/.303 with three extra-base hits in 33 PAs.
Sosa has mostly played second base during his MLB career, but the Blue Jays have Ernie Clement (.311 average, .716 OPS) holding down that position. Yet he also has experience at third base, playing 65 games there, and that may be where he fits best with Toronto.
Advertisement
Kazuma Okamoto has a slash line of .204/.283/.333 in 60 PAs. Defensively, he’s credited with -1 Defensive Run Saved and -2 Outs Above Average. Sosa isn’t much better with his glove, but if he finds last season’s form at the plate, he’ll provide an offensive upgrade.
Designated hitter might be another role Sosa could fill with George Springer going on the injured list because of a fractured left toe. Though Springer also started slowly, batting .185/.290/.370 despite four doubles and two home runs, he put up MVP-caliber numbers last year with 32 home runs, 27 doubles, 84 RBI and 18 stolen bases with a triple-slash average of .309/.399/.560.
Advertisement
To clear a spot for Sosa on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays moved pitcher Shane Bieber to the 60-day IL. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner isn’t likely to return until at least May while he works his way back from forearm fatigue and elbow inflammation.
Read the full article here
