Blue Jays Purchase Lenyn Sosa

The Blue Jays have acquired infielder Lenyn Sosa from the White Sox, in keeping with bulletins from each golf equipment. In trade, Chicago receives minor league outfielder Jordan Wealthy and a participant to be named later or money concerns. The Jays transferred right-hander Shane Bieber to the 60-day injured listing to open a 40-man spot. Sosa is out of choices and also will want an lively roster spot as soon as he studies to the workforce.

Sosa, 26, is coming off one of the best season of his huge league profession. In 2025, he stepped to the plate 544 occasions for the Sox and launched 22 house runs. Regardless of these lengthy balls, his offense was solely league common total since Sosa doesn’t get on base very a lot. His 3.3% stroll charge final 12 months was lower than half of the 8.4% league common. Michael Harris II was the one certified hitter within the majors with a decrease stroll charge.

He additionally doesn’t present a lot on protection, although he’s versatile. He has performed all 4 infield positions in his profession however hasn’t performed shortstop since 2022. Most of his time has been spent at second base, the place his grades haven’t been good. Outs Above Common places him 4 beneath par at that place in his profession whereas Defensive Runs Saved has him 17 beneath common. His grades on the nook spots have additionally been beneath common.

He has been out to a sluggish begin this 12 months, with one thing lower than an on a regular basis function. The Sox had been surprisingly capable of signal Munetaka Murakami this winter and made him their common first baseman. Sosa has been used just a few occasions within the designated hitter spot, along with one begin at first base and one at second. He has a .212/.212/.303 line in 33 plate appearances.

Sosa got here into 2026 with simply over two years of service time, that means he could be managed by 2029. Nevertheless, he might have been getting squeezed a bit with the Sox. The Murakami signing stuffed the primary base slot and likewise made Miguel Vargas the on a regular basis third baseman. The Sox have been utilizing Chase Meidroth as their common at second base. Sosa is out of choices and might’t be despatched to the minors.

For the Jays, they’ve been bit arduous by the harm bug within the early going this 12 months. On the place participant facet, Anthony Santander required shoulder surgical procedure again in February and might be out for a number of extra months. Because the season has began, the Jays have misplaced catcher Alejandro Kirk to a thumb fracture, designated hitter George Springer to a toe fracture and infielder/outfielder Addison Barger to an ankle sprain.

In response to these accidents, the Jays have needed to attain into their depth. Brandon Valenzuela has been recalled to assist Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Eloy Jiménez was added to the roster to switch Springer. Tyler Fitzgerald, lately acquired from the Giants, has been on the bench however hasn’t been put right into a recreation but.

More often than not, the Jays have an infield of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first, Ernie Clement at second, Andrés Giménez at shortstop and Kazuma Okamoto at third. With Springer now not within the DH spot daily, there could possibly be a bit extra flexibility to maneuver some guys round. Okamoto is off to a sluggish begin in his huge league profession, with a 35% strikeout charge by 60 plate appearances, successfully double his strikeout charge in Japan. Maybe the Jays might put him within the DH spot a bit extra usually to have him give attention to getting his strategy down. Or if the Jays wish to give Guerrero somewhat breather, he might DH whereas Okamoto or Sosa covers first base.

Sosa might additionally slot into the DH spot himself. Fitzgerald has choices and will maybe be the corresponding transfer for Sosa within the coming days, although if the Jays are squeezing Jiménez from DH at-bats, then maybe he could possibly be designated for task. Sosa’s righty bat could possibly be used to pinch hit for some lefties. He had pretty even splits in 2025 however they’ve been wider total. He has a .277/.301/.431 line and 102 wRC+ in opposition to lefties in his profession and a .232/.261/.369 line and 73 wRC+ in opposition to righties.

There are actually flaws in Sosa’s profile however the Jays felt they wanted to bolster the place participant group and there aren’t many choices for doing that right now of the 12 months. Sosa has some pop and a few flexibility, even when he’s not a standout defender. If issues go particularly nicely, he could be managed for 3 extra seasons after this one. However since he’s out of choices, it’s additionally doable he will get squeezed within the coming weeks if the fellows on the IL can get wholesome.

For the Sox, as talked about, Sosa was certainly one of their higher hitters final 12 months however has been pushed right into a part-time function this 12 months. He’s solely 26 years previous, so they may have held onto him, hoping for improved plate self-discipline and/or higher protection going ahead. However that may be arduous to do with restricted taking part in time and no means to be despatched to the minors, so that they’ve cashed him in for future expertise.

In the event that they get any payoff from Wealthy, it received’t be quickly. He was simply drafted final 12 months out of highschool, within the seventeenth spherical, and is barely 18 years previous. He hasn’t but appeared in an official recreation since being drafted. He doesn’t seem on lists of the highest prospects within the Jays’ system, so he’s a long-term lottery ticket for the Sox. They might additionally add extra expertise later, relying on the participant to be named later.

As for Bieber, he had some forearm fatigue within the offseason and the Jays have been constructing him up slowly. This transaction means he’s ineligible to be reinstated till late Could. He has been throwing off a mound these days however hasn’t but begun a rehab task. Since he missed all of spring coaching, he’ll successfully want a full ramp-up, though he’s now up on the mound. Every time he begins an official rehab task, that may final so long as 30 days.

Picture courtesy of Brad Mills, Imagn Pictures