Blue Jays deal catcher Jansen to Red Sox, reliever Pearson to Cubs
Pitcher Ricky Tiedemann, club's No. 1 prospect, to have Tommy John surgery
The Toronto Blue Jays traded catcher Danny Jansen to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday for three minor leaguers.
Toronto received infielder Cutter Coffey, infielder Eddinson Paulino, and right-hander Gilberto Batista.
Jansen saw news of the trade being reported on a clubhouse TV following Toronto's 7-3 win over Texas.
"It's a whole lot of emotions but I'm excited to go to an atmosphere that I've played in as a visitor," Jansen said.
Jansen is batting .212 with six home runs in 61 games this season with 18 runs batted in. He set career highs with 17 homers and 53 RBI in 2023.
June 26:<br>Danny Jansen starts at catcher for the Blue Jays vs the Red Sox (Game suspended in 2nd inning due to rain)<br><br>August 26:<br>Game will resume with the potential for Jansen playing for Boston<br><br>He could be the first player in MLB history to appear in a game for both teams
—@SNstatsJansen was Toronto's longest-tenured player and had spent his entire seven-year career with the Blue Jays, who drafted him in the 16th round in 2013. He has a $5.2 million US salary and can become a free agent after the World Series.
While growing up in Appleton, Wisc., Jansen's family hosted several young players from the local minor league team, including former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones.
The trade to Boston reunites Jansen with former Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire, who played his first four seasons with Toronto.
Boston's regular catcher this year has been Connor Wong.
Coffey, 20, hit .238 with 14 home runs and 46 RBI at Class-A. Paulino, 22, hit .263 with three home runs and 35 RBI at Double-A Portland. Batista, 19, was with the Florida Complex League Red Sox.
The Blue Jays on Friday traded right-hander Yimi Garcia to Seattle for a pair of minor leaguers, outfielder Jonatan Clase and catcher Jacob Sharp.
Pearson to Cubs for prospects
Earlier Saturday, the Blue Jays traded right-handed pitcher Nate Pearson to the Chicago Cubs for prospects Josh Rivera and Yohendrick Pinango on Saturday.
The Blue Jays drafted Pearson in the first round, 28th overall, in the 2017 MLB draft.
Once highly touted as Baseball America's seventh-ranked prospect, Pearson made his Major League debut as a starter in 2020 but struggled with injuries.
Rivera, a 23-year-old shortstop, was drafted by the Cubs in the third round of the 2023 draft. He had four home runs, 16 RBIs and a .169 batting average in 68 games for double-A Tennessee.
Pinango, a 22-year-old outfielder who bats left, had four homers, 21 RBI and a .223 average in 55 games for Tennessee.
Tiedemann surgery on Tuesday
Left-hander Ricky Tiedemann, who MLB Pipeline rates as the No. 1 prospect in the Blue Jays' organization, needs Tommy John surgery, Toronto manager John Schneider told reporters Saturday.
Tiedemann is set to undergo the procedure Tuesday after meeting with Dr. Keith Meister and Dr. Neal ElAttrache. It is expected that Tiedemann will miss 12 to 14 months, meaning that his 2025 season is also at risk.
Injuries have hampered Tiedemann all season, with ulnar nerve inflammation in his left elbow landing him on the seven-day injured list back in April before left forearm tightness put him on the shelf earlier this month.
Tiedemann, 21, has cruised through the Blue Jays' farm system this season, starting the year with Toronto's affiliate in the rookie-level Florida Complex League before moving on to class-A Dunedin and triple-A Buffalo.
In eight starts across those three levels of the minors, Tiedemann went 0-1 with a 5.19 earned-run average.
The Blue Jays drafted Tiedemann in the third round in 2021.
In other Blue Jays news, closer Jordan Roman was transferred to the 60-day injured list because of right elbow inflammation while fellow pitcher Ryan Burr was recalled from triple-A Buffalo and active for Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers.
With files from The Canadian Press and Field Level Media
