Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Blue Jays Trade For Dickerson and Cimber
The Blue Jays have jumped the market.
After the latest week of bullpen uncertainty, the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly swung a deal to acquire outfielder Corey Dickerson and reliever Adam Cimber from the Miami Marlins. The deal was first reported by NLMB Network's Jon Heyman.
Toronto is sending back infielder Jo Panik and minor league arm Andrew McInvale. Parts of the deal, now confirmed by the Blue Jays, were first reported by Kaitlyn McGrath of the Athletic and Craig Mish.
At face value, the trade addresses two of Toronto's biggest needs: bullpen help and left-handed power. With Rowdy Tellez in Triple-A, Panik was Toronto's primary LH bench bat most days, and Dickerson could join Cavan Biggio and Reese McGuire as the only left-handed hitters on the MLB team. He has a career .847 OPS v RHP and reached 27 homers during an All Star season with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017.
Dickerson currently has an undisclosed foot injury and Marlins manager Don Mattingly recently said MRIs were "not very promising," but the Blue Jays had to sign off on medical reports before the deal is processed.
The addition of Cimber will have an immediate impact on Toronto's relief depth. He does not register many strikeouts with his mid-80s fastball, but Cimber is a fastball/slider veteran reliever who has over 170 innings of experience as a major league RP. With a 2.88 ERA and 3.32 FIP this season, Cimber has been one of Miami's best bullpen arms in 34.1 IP. The former Cleveland reliever has yet to allow a home run this season, and has pitched over one inning multiple times.
The 24-year-old McInvale has appeared for A+ Vancouver and AA New Hampshire as a reliever this season. Across both levels, the former 37th round pick has notched a 2.55 ERA and 12.4 K/9 in 24.2 IP.
Dickerson is an expiring free agent making $8.75 million this year and the Blue Jays will be paying the majority of his remaining salary, per Craig Mish. Cimber has two years of control after 2021 and a $925,000 salary this season. Panik was a free agent at the end of the season, making $1.85 million in 2021.
In a corresponding roster move, to free a spot on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays designated for assignment Travis Bergen.
Further reading:
Takeaways from Ross Atkins' media availability
8 ways to fix the struggling Toronto Blue Jays bullpen
Blue Jays have the most top prospects in Baseball America's top 100
