ZIMMER FOR CASTRO
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired outfielder Bradley Zimmer from the Cleveland Guardians for pitcher Anthony Castro.
What does it give the Toronto Blue Jays
In Zimmer, the Blue Jays acquire a left-handed batter and solid outfielder who can play all three positions. Once a top prospect, Zimmer hopes the change of scenery can unleash his untapped potential. Toronto could use more left-handed hitters in their lineup, so Zimmer might get the chance to shine as a Jay.
What does it give the Cleveland Guardians
Castro has a live arm but struggled in spring training this year. He did pitch reasonably well for Toronto in 2021, and dominated at Triple-A Buffalo. So, perhaps he could help Cleveland's bullpen at some point this season. The Guardians finally gave up on Zimmer, a perennial prospect who simply never thrived.
Fantasy impact
Zimmer has sneaky fantasy value with the Blue Jays, so he might be worth picking up in very deep leagues. Castro can be safely ignored in most formats at this point. He is unlikely to become a quality closer or setup man in Cleveland. Instead, expect him to fill a middle-inning role when/if he gets recalled.
