Blue Jays Acquire Cimber and Dickerson from Miami

On Tuesday, Toronto Blue Jays announced a trade with the Miami Marlins. Following the apparent need of bullpen relievers, the team picked up Adam Cimber, while also adding veteran outfielder Corey Dickerson in a deal that sent utility infielder Joe Panik and minor league pitching prospect Andrew McInvale back to Florida.

Although Cimber was the main target in the deal, the added bonus of a well-rounded fielder will certainly help an already potent Blue Jays outfield. Dickerson – who is currently in a walking boot rehabbing a left foot contusion – is expected to make a return to the lineup at some point this season, although the prognosis on a quick return is not likely.

With the Jays’ bullpen currently serving as the team’s weakest link, Cimber and his 2.88 ERA and 1.19 WHIP will be an immediate boost to the available relievers. His postseason experience with Cleveland in 2018 and 2020 also provides an extra bit of support for a team hoping to make a run through October.

At 30 years old, the right-handed submarine-style pitcher actually has three more seasons left before he is scheduled to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent in 2024.

“For sure he’s going to help our bullpen a lot and what he does is give us a different look, so I’m really looking forward to getting him to the group,” Jays’ manager Charlie Montoyo said on Tuesday. “And just like everybody else, he’s going to get a chance to pitch in high leverage… I love the different look he’s going to give us.”

He owns a 15.9 strikeout rate through his 34.1 innings pitched in 2021, just below the league average, but Cimber does have a 7.9 walk percentage and a 49.5 ground ball percentage, which places him above the pack. His career scouting reports show a higher level of success against right-handed batters, despite posting better numbers against lefties so far in 2021 with Miami.

As far as outfielders go, Dickerson is among the better veteran players left in the league. The former Gold Glove winner will hopefully return to the lineup – or fill-in in a platoon rotation – following the All-Star Break. His competition includes George Springer, Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel and Randal Grichuk.

The 32-year-old left-handed bat is currently in the second year of a two-year deal and has played 890 career games over his time with Colorado, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and most recently, Miami. Dickerson was actually a player for Charlie Montoyo back when the two both served on the Rays in 2017.

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“I like the guy a lot,” Montoyo added of Dickerson. “He’s a gamer. He’s going to give us a left-handed bat off the bench, he can play left and he’s going to be a good addition. As you know, we’ve got a right-handed lineup and if you add him, a left-handed bat like that is going to help us a lot.”

Dickerson currently sports a .260 batting average with two home runs and 14 RBIs on the season.

Included in the trade is $2.65 million going to Toronto from the Marlins, to which the Jays ultimately end up adding roughly $1 million to the payroll moving forward, taking salaries into account.

Heading to Miami is Joe Panik, who owns a .246 average to go alongside two homers and 11 RBIs this year. Also moving south is right handed pitching prospect Andrew McInvale.

Currently playing for AA New Hampshire, McInvale was chosen by Toronto in the 37th round back in 2019. He’s pitched 20.2 innings in 13 games so far, putting up a 2.18 ERA and 28 strikeouts with a 1.21 WHIP. He’s 2-2 on the season.