Blue Jays acquire Gim¨¦nez and Sandlin
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired 2B Andr¨¦s Gim¨¦nez and RHP Nick Sandlin from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for INF Spencer Horwitz and OF Nick Mitchell.
Gim¨¦nez, 26, played 152 games with the Guardians in 2024, hitting .252 with 22 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 63 RBI, 30 stolen bases, an MLB-leading 21 outs above average (OAA), and 20 defensive runs saved (DRS). The three-time Gold Glove winner (2022-24) and 2023 AL Platinum Glove-winning second baseman was named an All-Star in 2022 while finishing 6th in AL MVP voting. Since 2022, his 59 DRS and 52 OAA both rank 2nd in the Majors. The Barquisimeto, Venezuela, native was signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent in 2015, eventually making his debut for the club in 2020. Over five big league seasons, the left-handed hitter has appeared in a total of 568 games, batting .261 with 88 doubles, 11 triples, 49 home runs, 222 RBI, 99 stolen bases, and a .715 OPS.
Sandlin, 27, appeared in a career-high 68 games this past season, going 8-0 while posting a 3.75 ERA with a .222 opponent AVG, a 27.6% strikeout rate, and a 33.7% whiff rate. The right-handed reliever from Evans, GA, was selected by the Guardians in the 2nd round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Southern Mississippi. Since making his MLB debut with the team in 2021, he has made a total of 209 appearances while recording a 3.27 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, a .192 opponent AVG, a 27.7% strikeout rate, and a 31.6% whiff rate.
Horwitz, 27, played a total of 97 games with the Blue Jays in 2024, batting .265 with 19 doubles, 12 home runs, 40 RBI, a 10.8% walk rate, a 19.3% strikeout rate, and a .790 OPS. The left-handed hitter was named to the MLB All-Rookie Second Team after leading all qualified rookies in OBP (.357). The Timonium, MD, native was selected by the Blue Jays in the 24th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Radford University. After making his MLB debut with the club in 2023, the infielder has appeared in a total of 112 MLB contests, batting .264 with 34 extra-base hits, 47 RBI, and a .783 OPS.
Mitchell, 21, was selected by the Blue Jays in the 4th round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Indiana University. The outfielder from Carmel, IN, appeared in 22 games with Single-A Dunedin this past season, batting .289 with seven extra-base hits, 13 RBI, and an .817 OPS. In his lone year at Indiana in 2024, he hit .335 with 15 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 49 RBI, a .458 OBP, and a .970 OPS in 54 games.