9:41pm: Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets that the D-backs are taking on the remainder of Jay’s salary and will be on the hook for any of the $1.5MM worth of incentives he unlocks. Jay reportedly receives $100K for every 25th plate appearance beginning at 250 plate appearances and escalating up through his 600th plate appearance of the year. He’s already at 266 PAs on the season.
7:52pm: The Diamondbacks announced that they’ve acquired outfielder Jon Jay from the Royals in exchange for minor league left-hander Gabe Speier and minor league right-hander Elvis Luciano. Infielder Kristopher Negron has been designated for assignment to clear roster space.
Jay, 33, inked a one-year contract worth $3MM this offseason and is still owed about $1.86MM through season’s end. He’s gotten off to a nice start at the plate in his first year with Kansas City, hitting .307/.363/.374 with a homer, nine doubles, two triples and three steals on the year.
That’s a fairly typical year at the plate for Jay, who has batted at least .291 and posted an OBP of at least .339 in four of the past five seasons. While he doesn’t provide much in the way of pop, he’ll give the Diamondbacks a high-average hitter with solid OBP skills who rarely strikes out and can handle all three outfield spots.
For a team that currently strikes out at a 25 percent clip — fourth-highest in the Majors — Jay’s 14.7 percent punchout rate would seem to be particularly appealing. Beyond that, Jay has virtually no discernible platoon split, having hit lefties (.288/.361/.347) at a comparable rate to righties (.290/.354/.393) throughout his career.
Jay will join an outfield mix that also includes David Peralta, Jarrod Dyson and Chris Owings at the moment. Heading into the season, the outfield hardly looked to be a serious need for the D-backs, but they’ve since seen March acquisition Steven Souza hit the DL twice and are also without A.J. Pollock for upwards of two months due to an avulsion fracture in his thumb.
While that has the makings of a potentially crowded outfield mix if everyone can get healthy, the D-backs will worry about that theoretical logjam down the line. For the time being, they’re taking a proactive approach to help stop the bleeding after a dreadful freefall that has seen their once-monstrous division lead whittled down to a half-game advantage over the Rockies.
The price the D-backs paid for Jay appears modest, at best (as one might expect for a part-time outfielder on a modest contract). The 23-year-old Speier was a 19th-round pick by the Red Sox back in 2013 that has now been traded four times in his career. He went from Boston to Detroit in the Yoenis Cespedes/Rick Porcello blockbuster before next making his way to the Braves alongside Ian Krol in the trade that sent Cameron Maybin back to Detroit. Speier never threw a pitch in the Braves organization, though, as he was traded to the D-backs alongside Shelby Miller in the infamous Ender Inciarte/Dansby Swanson deal.
For a player that’s bounced around so much, though, Speier has solid numbers in the minors. He’s currently in his second full season at the Double-A level and has thus far notched a tidy 3.03 ERA with 7.9 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and a whopping 60.5 percent ground-ball rate through 29 2/3 frames. In all, he has a 3.67 ERA in 112 2/3 innings at that level, though he’s yet to ascend to Triple-A and is not considered to be among Arizona’s top 30 farmhands.
Luciano, then, may be the more notable of the pair of hurlers headed to Kansas City. MLB.com ranks him 26th among D-backs farmhands, while Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDainiel of Fangraphs noted in their rundown of the system that Luciano has a 55-grade curveball and a chance to start. Of course, at 18 years of age, he’s years away from even sniffing the big leagues.
Luciano pitched in the Dominican Summer League and in Rookie ball last season, posting a combined 2.84 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9. Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com give him a chance to have three average or better offerings, highlighted by the aforementioned hook, but he’ll need quite a bit more development. Callis and Mayo, though, note that he has “plus mound presence and maturity” and was well-regarded by many in the D-backs organization.
For the Royals, the trade of Jay figures to be the first of many in a long summer of rebuilding. Jay was among the many veterans on a contract set to expire after this season, and it’s likely that the Royals front office will field offers on everyone from high-profile rentals like Kelvin Herrera and Mike Moustakas to veteran starters like Jason Hammel and even more controllable assets like Whit Merrifield. The rentals seem like virtual locks to go (Herrera and Moustakas, in particular), but GM Dayton Moore and his staff will undoubtedly carry an open mind as they entertain offers for nearly anyone on the roster.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sweetness!
For who? The Dodgers, Giants, Padres and Rockies?
Definitely the Houston Oilers.
Great great deal for KC. Luciano is a huge sleeper
#26 in their organization. Probably means he’s a top 10 guy for the Royals.
Dbacks have no farm lol
He was #26 for Arizona, he is now #27 for KC. Their farms are fairly close.
It was mostly sarcasm, but I didn’t do a very good job of letting anyone know.
what lol…nice pickup…if used primarily asa 4th…can fill in short term as a starter…lefties own him
Jay has virtually no platoon split throughout his career.
Jon Jay’s career triple slash splits versus RHP and LHP are very similar.
vs RHP: 290/.354/.393
vs LHP: .288/.361/.348
Last season with the Cubs, Jay had a .318/.410 BA/OBP split versus southpaws compared to a .289/.364 metric versus righty’s. His SLG was lower much like his career numbers but his value is in getting on base at the top or bottom of the batting order. He’s not a middle of the order bat.
Love this move for both sides. While everyone else is busy playing poker and waiting for the deadline to make a deal, AZ addresses a big need with a solid player, and KC gets a nice return. Thing of beauty.
Now the draft is over here come the trades, right on time 🙂
HaHa, Jonjay play for Cubs in 2017, Cubs win division, Jonjay play for Airzona in 2018, Arizona win division. Where jonjay play they say horray. Jonjay win division. Jonjay!
plus hes back with his old buddy descalso… these guys are winners
Except for the Paa-dres? lol
In all seriousness I like Jay. He’s a good 4th OF in multiple spots.
Did San Diego win with him? No. Royals? No. Cubs won then cut him loose. He sucks.
He wasn’t on the cubs in 16, that was 17 and they didn’t win
They went to the playoffs in 2017. Almora and Happ were better. Still are better. Other than getting HBP in the playoffs, Jay was absent and did nothing.
You suck daved…John jay although does not
Maybe this will relieve Lovello’s temptation to continue to trot Owings out there. Dbacks need any kind of spark. Most of their bats are ice cold. When John Ryan Murphy and Daniel Descalso are two of your better everyday bats, things are grim.
Don’t expect a spark from this slappy, slow, noodle arm stiff. Flairs over the 3B man and weak groundballs.
When you lose Pollock and Goldy is slumping, that will always be a problem. This guy ain’t the solution.
Arizona must be desperate.
I like this deal for both teams. Arizona gets an outfielder that will likely lead off for them and will do exactly what he’s been doing all season and that is get on base. The Royals get exactly what they want… A very young high ceiling lottery ticket. The Royals are desperate for pitching talent in their system evidenced by their draft on Monday. Without a doubt this is the first of more trades to come from the Royals.
LOL
An LOL in response to a very well reasoned thoughtful comment. Definitely a troll. Jay Isn’t a superstar but he certainly has value
His value is from the bench
Now watch runners run wild on his arm and sloth speed. People slobber over his singles, but forget he can’t run, play D, throw or hit for power. Other than that, WHAT A PLAYER!!
Yet somehow this one dimensional player managed to get in 141 games and garner 433 PA’s with a 2017 Cub team overloaded with outfielders.
For some reason you must pissed at Jon Jay. Did he refuse you an autograph at some point in your miserable life?
Where was he in the playoffs last year? He’s the emptiest hitter in baseball. Baseball players need power, speed, defense and an arm. Which one of those does Jay possess. Autograph from Jay? My signature is worth more
Only if you sell it to me…along with your soul of course! lol
No he just screwed her!
Please show us where Jon Jay hurt you. For some unknown reason you felt the need to respond to every single comment here bashing an average major leaguer.
Hel” likely be in LF all the time. There won’t be much running on him. Even if there is, his noodle arm only needs to protect against runners going third to home. Hustle doubles are already a part of life in AZ, even after the humidor, so players getting into second ahead of the throw will be nothing new.
If he can get on base at a decent clip, that will be a big improvement over the players the Diamondbacks currently have that they are trotting out there. Chris Owings forgot his bat in some far, distant land. It might be shacking up with his ability to take walks. If that’s the case, he’s screwed, because he’s never been able to take them, and if his bat doesn’t come around, he’ll be bumped when Pollock returns.
Daniel Descalso has also been playing the OF. That is never a recipe for success. His bat is the best it has ever been this year, but he’s a defensive liability, far more so than Jay will be. Now Descalso can stick to getting his starts at 2B, and sometimes at 3B if Lamb is getting a day off.
This deal cost Arizona nothing. Worst case scenario, Jay stinks up the joint and gets kicked to the curb when Pollock returns. The most likely scenario is that he becomes the 5th OF.
He can’t throw anyone out at home from LF either, but overall, your comments are mostly correct. Jay will be relegated to the bench, like he was in Chicago when they realized Almora and Happ are far superior, especially in the field.
Wow Daved! JonJay steal you wife?
Nope. He can’t steal anything.
Well he just stole at bats from Jarrod Dyson, so that’s something
Likely Owings, who’s a stiff too.
As a Royals fan – this was the design. Jay is a useful piece for a contending team (he’s hitting .307 and getting on base .363). Those are very solid numbers. I’ve also been pleasantly surprised at his defense. Dbacks get a good piece that can play multiple OF positions. Royals do what they should – adding young pitching to the farm. I’m pleased with this return for Jay – and think he could be a good piece to Arizona.
Exactly what Jay, duda & moose were signed to be. Although I would not be shocked if moose got a 3 year KC deal. Player loyalty in Kansas City is a uncommon attribute.
His defense? You happy how he can field a ground ball? I watched at least a half a dozen balls fly over his head that should have been caught. One series against the White Sox, Steve Stone was trying not to laugh at Willie playing CF. Any stiff can play LF. And when you put him in RF, the opposition runs all day on his arm.
I”ve come to realize that you have not watched a single baseball game in your life. Or at least not understood anything happening if you did.
We get it. You don’t like Jon Jay.
We also know that you are incorrect. Believe it or not – these GMs paying him money to play baseball MIGHT just know a bit more than you do.
GMs never are wrong. Eye roll here. I’ve played, watched, and worked in baseball over 25 years. I’ve seen enough of the guy to know what he is, a bench player. And that’s all fine if that’s how he’s used.
Whoa! 25 years! WoW! You are such an expert! LoL! I have cowboy boots older than you! You played ball? Really? We all played Little League
and Babe Ruth
and Softball too! But you’re the expert right? Get out of town !
I’m guessing you’ve watched baseball longer than 25 years, but I’ve actually been playing and working in it for 25. You can get lost yourself.
“a bench player. And that’s all fine if that’s how he’s used.”
So now you are admitting he can be a useful player to a contending team.
Congratulations on learning something today.
except that’s not how they will use him until Pollock comes back, And I never used the word, “useful.” Playing and providing something is 2 different things.
KC open for business
Moose to Cards
Duffy to Yankees
Salvy to the Rockies
Wouldn’t be the jump start to a rebuild like what Hosmer, Cain & Moose coulda pulled last year but it would be a good start to a rebuild none the less
Agreed. KC coulda had a better haul were they to have sold last year. However, the QO’s on Hosmer and Cain helped.
This is unrelated to this post, but when I click on the player links from my ipad they don’t work. Online and on my phone they work just fine. Does anyone else have this problem?
To add to this, it’s only major league players links that don’t work. For an example, when the post about Shane Bieber getting up was posted I was able to click on his link and it would take me to his minor league page.
That happens on my phone and it happens to links to stories as well
jj is just a name…they gave to much for him . this though sets the deadline guidelines.
Gluck to those ballclubs that give it all for partime succness
The Diamondbacks didn’t give up any players of value to acquire Jon Jay. Neither player in the deal had a future in the organization.
How do you know they wouldn’t have a future in the org? A winning lottery ticket is valuable anywhere.
Solid player. This is a guy you would like to have at bat in a high pressure playoff situation.
Sure you would. That .225 BA with 573 OPS in the post season SCREAMS success in high pressure playoff situations.
Wow! was Dayton Moore asleep when he signed Willie? PA incentives on top of the overpay of $3MM? Good Lord
Overpay? No , that is a good deal. He could of easily been laid 2 years 10-12m
It’s a good thing 29 other GMs were smart enough not to sign him to a multi year deal. This is his 5th team in 4 years and it will be 6 in 5 next year, if he’s lucky.
And yet another professional GM took on that contract yesterday – in addition to giving up two players.
Scram troll.
And 5 others have dumped him.
I was very much wanting the Cubs to reacquire Jay and send Happ down to AAA to work in the K’s. Would of been a good move. He is a good player.
LOL. I’ll take Happ’s .836 OPS over Jay’s .737 every day of the week. Welcome to baseball in 2018, where strikeouts are acceptable, and power, defense, speed rule.
And base hits still knock in runs and still get you on base to score runs
Let’s see. Jon Jay 266 PA. 73 hits. 18 RBI. 28 runs scored. Ian Happ. 169 PA. 33 hits. 19 RBI. 22 runs scored. Who gives you more bang for your buck? In 97 FEWER PA, Happ has more RBI and only 6 fewer runs scored. Good bye.
As much as I like Ian Happ’s potential, Cub fans are still waiting for his defense to match his athleticism and his speed to manifest into more stolen bases. Hopefully this will come with experience. The defense figures to improve if Joe Maddon would only restrain himself from using Happ and virtually every Cub position player at too many positions.
Maddon has used Happ at 6 different positions thus far in 2018 including 2B, 3B and 1B when maybe the player and team would be better served if he actually learned to play the outfield more proficiently. The University of Cincinnati Bearcats must have had a good reason for moving Happ off of 2B and into the outfield following his freshman season. There is no freaking reason other than ego and an incessant need to micro-manage for Happ and just about every Cub not named Anthony Rizzo to be all over the baseball diamond. More defined roles for each player in the batting order might also be in order on the North Side.
He made a nice catch today. He’s only 23. Give him a little time.
Yes he did…as a left-fielder, which is probably the position he profiles best at defensively in MLB. Unfortunately it’s about the only position the Cubs can play Kyle Schwarber at. A straight platoon wouldn’t necessarily be in order either since Schwarber bats left-handed and the switch-hitting Happ also hits better from the left side.
Over time Happ should also be proficient enough in CF with his athleticism. That would be the position where a platoon with right-handed hitting Albert Almora might be more feasible although I love the latters elite glove and offensive potential as well.
There ought to be enough PA’s available for all three between LF and CF where they could each garner 400-500 PA’s this season with Almora and Happ finishing most contests in CF and LF respectively with their better gloves.
It’s difficult to fathom all three remaining with the Cubs long term. I believe one of Happ or Schwarber will eventually be dealt for other team needs that may arise, particularly on the pitching staff. If the Cubs are serious about pursuing and ultimately signing free agent RF Bryce Harper next offseason, it’s a no-brainer that at least one of those two will be gone.
Great move by the Royals. Sign and flip a guy for some prospects. The Orioles sign Colby Rasmus, who was the same as every other K batter when he is not injured. At least signing John Jay would have gotten us some prospects. But then again, we would not have been this proactive.
The Royals nailed those comp picks by the way, which makes the decision not to trade Hos and Cain look at least a little bit better. Obviously it would have been a rather solid prospect haul, but Kowar is a very, very solid pitcher.
Those picks also have them the slot money to be able to sign Singer overslot. After Tampa and Kansas got two top arms in the middle of the first arm, I wonder if teams will value that compensation pick more than some prospect who they feel they have to trade for.
Dang ! Cardinal Nation lost another legend! RIP RED! You were a class act ! A gentleman to the end. He was one of the oldest living connections to the golden age of MLB .
Wrong thread, batman.
I love that it’s now the Inciarte/Swanson trade instead of Shelby Miller/Swanson lol
One of my favorite trades was the Wil Myers/James Shields trade that became the Jake Odorizzi/Wade Davis trade. Not that Shields was awful but the stars from each deal were the “throw ins”
acarneglia: I don’t understand your point?
The Atlanta Braves traded Shelby Miller along with Gabe Speier to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Aaron Blair, Ender Inciarte and Dansby Swanson. Why would the deal be referred to as the “Inciarte/Swanson” trade?
I get that you were prompted into the comment by the wording in the article but it was taken out of context because you chose only to acknowledge the last part of Steve Adams long sentence in describing the trade.
Jon Jay is a good player. He was a good Cardinal.