Blue Jays deal Grilli to Rangers

The Toronto Blue Jays dealt struggling reliever Jason Grilli to the Texas Rangers on Sunday. Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO - In advance of their series finale against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, the Toronto Blue Jays completed a trade that sent RHP Jason Grilli to the Texas Rangers in exchange for minor league outfielder Eduard Pinto and cash considerations.

Pinto, 22, has slashed .309/.367/.390 over 398 games since signing with the Rangers as an amateur free agent in 2012.

Through 56 games with the high-A Down East Wood Ducks in 2017, the left-handed swinging native of Valencia, Venezuela has hit .311 with ten walks and four home runs over 191 plate appearances.

In addition to acquiring Pinto, the Blue Jays also dealt minor league outfielder Lane Thomas to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for international cap money on Sunday.

Also a 22-year-old outfielder, Thomas produced a slash line of .242/.321/.379 across 264 minor league games within the Blue Jays organization dating back to 2014.

Given Thomas' departure from Dunedin's lineup, it's likely that Pinto will replace him on the D-Jays roster in the coming days.

Grilli, 40, appeared in 26 games with the Blue Jays in 2017, posting an ERA of 6.97 to go along with 23 strikeouts and nine walks through 20 2/3 innings.

Designated for assignment on June 27, the veteran reliever will join a Rangers bullpen that boasts the fourth-highest ERA (4.67) in the American League this season.

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