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Alex Anthopoulos (not to be confused with Andy Anthrotopulus) completed a small trade with the Houston Astros, the team the Blue Jays are currently playing against, by acquiring infielder Ronald Torreyes for cash considerations, or a player to be named later. However, it's not like Torreyes can just change clubhouses today--he was actually playing in triple-A Fresno and but will be assigned to double-A New Hampshire according to Shi Davidi.
The @BlueJays have acquired SS Ronald Torreyes from the Astros for cash considerations or a player to be named later.
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 15, 2015
To make room on the 40-man roster, Jonathan Diaz was outrighted, having already conveniently cleared waivers, saving the Jays the hassle of designating him for assignment.
The 22-year-old Torreyes, who has, uh, whatever's opposite of a baby face, hails from Venezuela and signed with the Reds as a 17-year-old. He is listed at 5'10 but according to FanGraphs' Kiley McDaniel he is barely taller than the man he replaced on the roster. He was sent to the Cubs in the 2011-2012 offseason as part of the trade for Sean Marshall before being dealt to the Astros for cash in 2013. He was first added to the Astros' 40-man roster this past offseason so he will have two more option seasons after this one.
One hopes that he has not simply forgotten how to hit, but through 19 games, Torreyes is batting a meagre .200/.211/.214 with a 12.5 K% and 1.4 BB% (compare that to 2014 when he hit .298/.345/.376 with a 5.0 K% and 4.8 BB% at the same level). Two of his hallmarks, back when he was a true prospect, were his great strikeout and walk rates.
The benefit of this trade is that when Jose Reyes eventually leaves Toronto, fans would simply have to add three letters to the back of their jersey to get this guy's.