Certain, there have been some trades in there that weren’t nice, such because the Brad Hand commerce in 2021 or the Mitch White transfer in 2022. But it surely’s onerous to level to commerce the place you’re like “darn, I want they didn’t make that transfer”. Effectively, that’s apart from one commerce earlier than the 2023 commerce deadline.
Drafted within the thirteenth spherical of the 2021 draft by the Jays, Svanson by no means ranked as a prime prospect. Within the Jays’ group, he put up strong, however not spectacular stats in his first full-season. He was pitching nicely earlier than the commerce, however this appeared like a nothing burger commerce when it occurred.
Clearly, it wasn’t as I’m writing about it. Svanson pitched everything of the 2024 season with the Cardinals Triple-A staff, the place he had a 20.8 Ok% and an 8.8 BB%. By the tip of the season, the 26-year-old turned an essential reliever for the Cardinals. He completed with a 1.94 ERA and a couple of.72 FIP in 60.1 innings pitched over 39 video games. Extra importantly, his strikeout price jumped to 29.1%, whereas he completed the yr with an 8.5 BB%.
The best-handed pitcher sits a tick beneath 97 mph with the fastball, with a sweeper that can be deemed about common. His ERA ranked eighth amongst relievers in 2025, ending forward of Tyler Rogers, Josh Hader, Jhoan Duran, and an entire lot of different notable names.
Add in the truth that Svanson makes the league minimal for the subsequent two seasons, in addition to just a few years of arbitration, and the Cardinals obtained a invaluable piece to their bullpen for the foreseeable future for basically nothing.
DeJong’s tenure with the Blue Jays was unremarkable at finest. His first three seasons with the Cardinals from 2017 till 2019 have been strong, even hitting the 30 dwelling run mark in 2019, however his play dropped off from there. Earlier than the commerce, he was slashing .233/.297/.412 with 13 dwelling runs in 306 plate appearances.
As soon as Bichette returned, DeJong was designated for task, later signing with the Chicago White Sox. He spent the 2024 season with them and the Kansas Metropolis Royals, the place he hit 24 dwelling runs and slashed .227/.276/.427 for a 96 wRC+. DeJong performed for the Washington Nationals in 2025, hitting six dwelling runs in 208 plate appearances.
Whereas the context of needing a shortstop makes this commerce logical, it has not aged nicely in any respect, particularly as they’d Ernie Clement tearing up Triple-A Buffalo. Certain, Svanson might not have gotten this chance in Toronto, however it will go down as one of many worst trades this regime has made. To their credit score that’s as a result of they’ve so few commerce losses since becoming a member of the group.
