The Blue Jays’ boss adds a key player to the team who will do great for the…
The Toronto Blue Jays made their first trade of the offseason on Monday by acquiring left-hander Brendon Little from the Chicago Cubs.
Little, a 27-year-old pitcher, spent the entire 2023 season at Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs. During his time there, he posted a 4.05 ERA over 73.1 innings, striking out 73 batters and walking 38. He has only appeared in one MLB game, in which he allowed three runs in 0.2 innings against the Blue Jays on August 30, 2022.
Drafted 27th overall in 2017, Little is known for being an extreme groundball pitcher. His groundball rate exceeded 60% in each of his last two Triple-A seasons, reaching 64.0% last year. His signature pitch is a sinker, thrown 62.4% of the time in 2023, with an average velocity of 94.4 mph. He also has a looping slider with a 45.3% whiff rate, which he used effectively in his brief MLB outing.
According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, the Blue Jays were attracted to Little’s “stuff from the left side, work ethic, and experience in multi-inning roles.” His impressive play during a spring training game on March 25 further highlighted his determination and defensive skills.
For now, Little is considered a depth addition for the Blue Jays. He could be called up if injuries occur during the 2024 season or might be moved if other offseason acquisitions make him redundant. Despite being available for cash considerations, acquiring a former first-rounder who excels at inducing groundballs appears to be a prudent depth move for the team.
