TRADE: Hops Acquire Jansen from Fish

The Meinert Hops locked up their catcher spot Monday afternoon, acquiring catcher Danny Jansen (2/$2) from the Spokane Fightin' Fish for a 2023 3rd Round Pick (40th Overall).

Jansen had two month-long stints on the injured list during 2022 due to an oblique strain and a broken finger, and he finished the regular season having played in 72 games. He started behind the plate Opening Day but didn't appear to have much job security with Alejandro Kirk and Gabriel Moreno also in the mix for playing time, but Jansen produced an .855 OPS with 15 home runs and 44 RBI, and he also improved his strikeout rate nearly four percentage points. He now has a .253 ISO over the past two years, which covers a stretch of 142 contests. Kirk also delivered a strong offensive campaign with a .285/.372/.415 slash line in 139 contests while splitting time between catcher and designated hitter.

Jansen's availability is somewhat of a question mark since he's missed significant time each of the past two seasons, but when available he's hit with power. The Blue Jays sent Moreno to the Diamondbacks, though the major return piece, Daulton Varsho, can also play catcher though it appears that the focus will be on keeping him in the outfield.

That then could turn focus to Brandon Belt who is expected to be the primary DH but brings a checkered injury history to the table as well.

TRADE: Fish Acquire Arias from Stacks

The Spokane Fightin' Fish and Alamo Short Stacks made a deadline deal Monday with GM Michael Tirabassi announcing the acquisition of shortstop Roderick Arias (Minors) in exchange for a 2023 6th Round Pick (88th Overall).

MLB Pipeline's No. 1 prospect in the 2022 international class, Arias signed for $4 million out of the Dominican Republic. He may have the best all-around collection of tools among the Yankees' stockpile of shortstops, though he'll need time to develop.

Though Arias didn't post big numbers in his introduction to pro ball, he showed the ability to use the entire field and hit the ball hard from both sides of the plate. He may have returned too soon and tried to do too much once he did, but he displayed a quick bat, the ability to identify breaking balls and promising patience. He drew walks at a 20 percent rate and could develop plus power once he gains more strength and experience.

Beyond his offensive upside, Arias has exciting all-around ability. He has run the 60-yard dash in 6.5 seconds, should be at least a plus runner even after he fills out his 6-foot-2 frame and is aggressive on the bases. With his quickness, instincts, smooth actions and a plus-plus arm, he's a no-doubt shortstop according to scouts.

The Stacks are now expected to retain just three prospects, leaving them with 14 selections in the RDBL Reserve Draft.

TRADE: Devils Acquire Eovaldi

The Mt. Diablo Devils and Mission Viejo Maulers struck a last minute deal Monday morning as GM Jason Watson announced the acquisition of right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (3/$1). The move will include six picks changing hands with the Devils landing the 15th, 37th, 87th and 102nd picks in exchange for the 6th and 21st picks overall.

After making 32 starts the previous season, Nathan Eovaldi was limited to 20 outings as he lost time early with back inflammation and then down the stretch with shoulder tightness. His four-seam and cutter velocity dropped, perhaps explaining a 22.4% strikeout rate, the lowest level since 2017. Eovaldi's biggest issue was a return of gopheritis as he yielded 21 homers in only 109.1 innings. His cutter and slider were particularly ineffective as they accounted for 41% of his homers allowed despite being thrown a combined 22% of the time. In contrast, Eovaldi upped his split finger usage to 21% and he surrendered only one homer with the pitch. Other than 2021, Eovaldi has missed at least a quarter of each season, so durability is an issue but that generally comes with a $1 arm. His miniscule walk rate keeps his WHIP in a fantasy friendly range but his dalliance with the long ball puts his ERA at risk. Eovaldi joined the Rangers on a two-year, $34 million contract, so he'll see a lot of the AL West and Globe Life Field, which ranks mostly as a neutral park for both hitters and pitchers.

Eovaldi was held back due to an oblique issue but made his return Friday against the Brewers, allowing four hits and striking out five over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. This was Eovaldi's second Cactus League start but first since he sustaining the injury at the beginning of the month. The right-hander's fastball, which averaged 95.8 mph last season, sat in the upper 90s, touching 99 mph multiple times, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "I felt like I was ahead in the counts, felt like I used all my pitches," the pitcher said. "The only thing I need to work on doing better at is executing with two strikes." As suggested earlier by manager Bruce Bochy, both Eovaldi and fellow Rangers starter Jacob deGrom could be on restricted counts early.