The Toronto Blue Jays solidified their bullpen hours before Tuesday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline, acquiring relievers Anthony Bass and Zach Pop from the Miami Marlins for shortstop prospect Jordan Groshans.
The Jays also acquired a player to be named later in the deal.
Bass, 34, has a 2-3 record with a 1.41 earned-run average over 44 2/3 innings with the Marlins this season, with 45 strikeouts and 10 walks.
He spent the 2020 season with Toronto, going 2-3 with a 3.51 ERA in 26 appearances.
The 25-year-old Pop, from Brampton, Ont., has a 2-0 record with a 3.60 ERA in 18 appearances with the Marlins this season, his second in the majors.
Part of what Anthony Bass had to say about the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marlins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Marlins</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BlueJays</a> trade. He will finally pitch for Toronto in Toronto (2020 was the Buffalo year). <br><br>Bass’ fish Slider and the tank will stay behind in Miami. <a href=”https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@KeeganMatheson</a> <a href=”https://t.co/SFmRJ7Sdja”>pic.twitter.com/SFmRJ7Sdja</a>
—@CDeNicola13
He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 23rd round of the 2014 MLB draft, but decided not to sign and instead played collegiately at the University of Kentucky.
‘Special’ to go home
Pop, who says he grew up a Blue Jays fan, called news of the trade “bittersweet” but said he is looking forward to playing close to home.
“It’s pretty special to be able to go back home and see my family and play for the Blue Jays,” he told reporters in Miami before the Marlins hosted the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.
“I’ve got a lot of friends, a lot of people rooting for them right now, and to be a part of what they’re doing over there is pretty amazing.”
Zach Pop discusses the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marlins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Marlins</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BlueJays</a> trade. He also talks about getting the chance to play for his childhood team. <a href=”https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@KeeganMatheson</a> <a href=”https://t.co/JBAa5mcoaY”>pic.twitter.com/JBAa5mcoaY</a>
—@CDeNicola13
Groshans, 22, was selected 12th overall by the Blue Jays in the 2018 MLB draft.
In 67 games with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons, he batted .250 with a home run and 24 runs batted in.
In other moves, left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda was been designated for assignment and lefty Andrew Vasquez was been claimed off outright waivers by Philadelphia.
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