I mentioned these guys mainly because Dawgger asked who else was traded.
Happ was traded last year and his value was much higher then. He was one of the top pitchers available at the time. McKinney and, to a lesser extent, Drury are space fillers. Probably a money saver for Toronto.
Osuna: I suspect most GMs would choose him over Giles looking forward. Giles is quite good, but I think Osuna is a more valuable commodity. And there is no certainty they will keep Giles after this year. He is doubtful that they want him back. Giles injury is a non-factor since as you say, unforeseeable. I did not consider Perez as I was simply looking at closer for closer. Looked up his stats for this year at AA ball. 4.70 ERA and 1.661 WHIP. No crystal ball was necessary to look up recent recorded history.
Sogard: No big deal either way. He won't be missed and highly doubtful they will get anything significant other than saving money.
When I said "sign and trade" it was not in the basketball sense but holding onto, IMO, two very good, high profile and very professional role model players who could be traded later for some decent value instead of letting them both walk for nothing whatsoever. Keep in mind EE went 2 years before JD and 3 before Vlady arrived, so there was time to get rid of a possible 3B/1B/DH logjam, although dumping Smoak's sorry ass would have solved that.
Question: Do you think the Jays maxed out or even got significantly ahead on the returns they got for Stroman, Sanchez/Biagini, JD, Happ, Osuna, EE? Would you give them more than a "C" grade for what they got back for the talent that they had at their disposal? I know you are defending management and don't like my criticism of their management style, but how excited were you at the times these trades were made? Were there any "wows" for you?
They saved a tonne of salary (even with the Giles acquisition), that's for sure. Unfortunately, I believe that that is more than offset by the lost revenue.
I'm really not sure where to start ....
Happ: had a 3.0 W.A.R. in 2018, was a pending F.A., Toronto got 2 capable pieces in exchange.
Would you have rather had Happ this season (and be committed to him for 2020) as the Yankees are? No, thank you.
Giles/Perez, Perez is still only 23. Still lots of time to figure things out. Osuna was a toxic situation. He was not going to play for Toronto again.
The Blue Jays did well, getting a quality closer in exchange, and a lottery ticket.
E.E. and J.D. did not "walk for nothing". J.D. returned Julien Merryweather (just 1 outing this season).....but Donaldson was injured at the time as well. I'm not sure what else Toronto could've done with E.E., they offered more money and more term than Cleveland did. Edwin's agent outsmarted himself in that situation.
"Justin Smoak's sorry ass" you say?
He has the 3rd highest O.B.P. on the club, and plays a terrific 1st base.
He saves his young infield mates many an error.
As far as the Sanchez/Biagini/Prospect for Fisher trade, they obviously see something in Fisher, have stated they'd been after him for a couple years. Sanchez? Who knows what is still there? Biagini, is a decent reliever, and who knows with the prospect? If the Astros straighten Sanchez out, I think they win the trade going away, unless Fisher turns into Mookie Betts or J.D. Martinez. No matter how the Houston trade works out, it won't be the worst Blue Jays/Astros trade in history.
I'm not "defending management", but I can safely sit here and say Shapiro (not Shapeeeeero) and Atkins have forgotten more about baseball than anyone on this thread has ever known.
As far as grading them, baseball is a rather unique sport in that it tends to take 2-3-5 or more years to figure out who "won" a trade, especially when trading established players for prospects. I reserve judgment.