Miami and Toronto are in discussions regarding Marlins infielder/outfielder Jonathan Villar, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. It’s unclear whether the two teams are progressing toward a deal, per Rosenthal, though Jon Heyman of MLB Network writes that Villar’s “definitely out there.”
Villar’s the second shortstop-capable player the Blue Jays have been connected to since the weekend, joining the Angels’ Andrelton Simmons. However, Simmons is not an option right now for Toronto, according to Rosenthal. The club’s in the market for help at the position after losing Bo Bichette to a knee sprain two weeks ago. Even if Bichette comes back this year, Villar’s versatile enough to slide to other positions, including second base and the outfield.
Since Bichette went down, the Blue Jays haven’t received much production from fill-ins Brandon Drury, Joe Panik and Santiago Espinal, but they’re still 18-14 and in the thick of the AL playoff hunt. In Villar, they’d be getting a switch-hitting 29-year-old whose offense has hovered around the league-average mark throughout his career. He’s off to a .272/.328/.360 start with two home runs and nine stolen bases in 126 plate appearances this season.
Villar, who’s on a prorated $8.2MM salary, is a pending free agent, so it may make sense for Miami to at least explore parting with him and other veteran trade chips. But even though the Marlins are just 14-15, they’re very much in the playoff race and will enter Monday tied for the final wild-card spot in the NL.
To be honest I’d rather have Villar than Simmons, he has a decent bat, good speed, and good defence. And if Bichette comes back we can just move him to third, I just hope they don’t overpay for him if they do end up trading for him.
Lol. Villar does not play good SS defense. He was so abysmal at 3rd in Milwaukee that they couldn’t play him there. He’s not going to slide over to 3B.
What’s more troubling is that his offensive stats are way down. And they’re supported by abysmal statcast numbers. Villar’s been as bad or worse than his numbers indicate.
Is he better than Travis Shaw? if so then yes it does make sense to trade for him because at least he can come in and pinch run and steal some bases, put bench is literally Panik, McGuire, and Vogelbach. So yea I still think it would make sense to get him.
16 errors in 48 career games at 3B. He’s really not an option at 3B. He’s not a good SS either but he’s an unplayable 3B.
He’ll be free to acquire though. Given his salary and poor performance. The Marlins will probably have to eat cash to facilitate his movement.
On the flip side, Villar is cheaper then Simmons – both in price and trade returns.
If you’re looking at solely Simmons or Villar, sure.
I’d call other teams about other players though. For example José Iglesias could be available from Baltimore. Strong defensive player who is out hitting Simmons and Villar this season.
If you wanted Bichette to get an up close and personal look at how a strong ML SS plays—the obvious choice is Simmons. Iglesias wouldn’t be the worst to learn from either. But Villar is a bit of a head case on the diamond. You realize that after watching him for a couple years.
Only issue I would with Iglesias (whom Baltimore would be foolish to hold onto) is he’s got some injury issues. But man would he be a good get for anybody if he can stay healthy
Iglesias is the guy i hope they get, The injury risk would discount the asking price and he has a team option.
Villar would be a replacement for Joe Panik in the utility role. There’s no possible way to argue that Villar isn’t way better than Panik in every sense, except possibly as a teammate (where Panik has a good rep).
Panik has been figuring it out at the pate lately. Think he’s getting better due to his playing time going up lately
He is a good true leadoff bat that can play second and or third
I would not call Villar a true lead off man. He’s fast but that’s about the only quality of a lead off man he has. A lot of swing and miss in his game and he isn’t a big OBP guy.
He makes perfect sense for the jays to get as a super utility guy/pinch runner
Definitely the guy you want on your team in case anyone goes down.
This is exactly why I liked it when AA was in charge of the Jays front office, we didn’t see this stream of Jays rumors, it becomes disappointing.
Villar is a LOOSE CANNON
HE’s ALWAYS SWINGING FOR THE FENCES
NOT A TEAM GUY.
So much so, I hear that Villar frequently TYPES IN ALL CAPS.
Villar would still be an upgrade over Panik and Drury and Espanol offensively.
Once Bichette is back, Biggio can slide over to 3rd and Villar can play 2nd with Shaw and Panik on the bench
I’d like to see the Jays take a run at Marte for CF and Bell at 1st/DH.
More switch hitters makes the lineups more versatile
If we get bell we will have 5 1B and 6 DH, why we have that many I still don’t know.
The only good 1B/DH we have is Vlad, the rest are free to go, Tellez would probably be included in a Bell trade
Except for Grichuk and Ryu im not impressed with any of the veterans on the team and wouldn’t worry if we cut most of them in favor of reinforcements
Between Gurriel and Teoscar one of them needs to go as well, can’t have 2 liabilities in the outfield.
I mean Gurriel is not that much of a liability, he can make good plays and can through out runners, Hernandez for sure, but letting him go doesn’t make sense at all not with the way he’s hitting, the team finally has consistent offence for the first time in like 3 years and all everyone wants to do is trade them.
Im not sold on Gurriel in LF . I wouldn’t be mad if he was included in a bigger deal for someone
Let’s say Marte and Ray in Arz
Teoscar shifts to LF and Grichuk in RF
Probably giving up Groshans or Manoah in a deal like that tho
Sandy Alcantara, Villar, Jesus Andujar, and Kintzler to Toronto for Vlad Jr.
What would it take to get Brian Anderson? Gurriel and sweetener low level high end pitcher?
Way more than that. He’s a building block.
I think a package beginning with Manoah/Richardson would work for the Fish… and then throw in two out of Alejandro Kirk/Gabriel Moreno, Santiago Espinal/Kevin Smith.
Not sure you build around a guy with 3 years left.
Even though the Marlins are technically in the playoffs, they should still be sellers… not like they’ll do anything in the playoffs this year.
Personally, I think they should target trading Villar, Urena and Dickerson. Maybe Brinson if someone is willing to give anything of value for him, of course.
Making a move for the sake of making a move to please fans is not the answer. Villar struggles at SS, can’t play 3B, can play 2B. Haven’t seen him in the OF, but if Villar is in and Tellez is out, forget it. Tellez is overlooked and underrated by Jays fans.
Make Villar the 2B and Biggio to 3B, fine. Otherwise do not bother.
Are the marlins buyers or sellers… are they really at a point in their rebuild to be buyers? I still think they are in a good spot to keep flowing prospects in their farm and should trade away chips that they currently have.