Leigh Sprague's Blue Jays All-Time Annotated Trade Catalogue, Part One - Peter Bavasi

Monday, January 26 2004 @ 05:16 AM EST

Contributed by: Craig B

When analyzing Peter Bavasi’s time as GM of the Blue Jays, it is wise to remember that Pat Gillick was really pulling most of the baseball strings behind the scenes. Nevertheless, Bavasi got the final say, so here is his catalogue. For good or ill.

Blue Jays All-Time Annotated Trade Catalogue
by Leigh Sprague


Part One : Peter Bavasi

November 5, 1976
Toronto trades SP AL Fitzmorris to Cleveland for C Alan Ashby and 1B/OF Doug Howard.


Obtained:
Alan Ashby, two seasons in Toronto

Year  avg./obp./slg.  gms   rc  fld/rf
1977 .210/.301/.280 124 33 -/+
1978 .261/.333/.420 81 36 +/+


Ashby traded to Houston on November 27, 1978.

Doug Howard did not play in Toronto. He was released on March 29, 1977.

Traded Away:
Al Fitzmorris, two seasons in Cleveland
Year  ip     w  l   era
1977 133 6 10 5.41
1978 14.3 0 1 6.28

Fitzmorris released by Cleveland on July 7, 1978.

Synopsis: Ashby was the Jays' starting catcher in their inaugural season, giving way to Rick Cerone in 1978. Fitzmorris likely would have cracked the starting rotation for the Jays in 1978, but with no significant positive effect. None of the players that the Jays eventually got in return for Ashby in the subsequent trade with the Astros were of much value. Verdict: innocuous.

December 6, 1976
Toronto trades DH Rico Carty to Cleveland for C Rick Cerone and OF John Lowenstein.


Obtained:
Rick Cerone, three seasons in Toronto
Year  avg./obp./slg.  gms  rc  fld/rf
1977 .200/.245/.270 31 6 +/+
1978 .223/.284/.298 88 23 +/+
1979 .239/.294/.358 136 49 -/-

Cerone traded to New York Yankees on November 1, 1979.

John Lowenstein did not play for Toronto. He was traded to Cleveland on March 29, 1977.

Traded Away:
Rico Carty, one season in Cleveland
Year  avg./obp./slg.  gms  rc  fld/rf
1977 .280/.355/.432 127 71 dh

Carty traded back to Toronto on March 15, 1978.

Synopsis: Cerone served below replacement level as the Jays starting catcher for 1978 and 1979. Cerone's real utility to the Jays was in bringing Damaso Garcia to Toronto in a trade with the Yankees in November of 1979. The Jays got two full seasons of Cerone, plus the return in the subsequent trade, in exchange for one season of Rico Carty. It was a good season, but not good enough to bring this trade into Cleveland's favour. Verdict: slightly advantageous.

February 17, 1977
Toronto trades C Dave Roberts to San Diego for P Jerry Johnson.


Obtained:
Jerry Johnson, one season in Toronto
Year  ip   w  l  sv  era
1977 86 2 4 5 4.60

Johnson released by Toronto on March 22, 1978

Traded Away:
Dave Roberts, two seasons in San Diego
Year  avg./obp./slg.  gms  rc  fld/rf
1977 .220/.268/.323 82 15 -/-
1978 .216/.309/.309 54 9 -/-

Roberts subsequently traded by San Diego to Texas.

Synopsis: Roberts was later traded to Texas with Oscar Gamble and cash for Mike Hargrove, Kurt Bevacqua and Bill Fahey. None of those players made a significant contribution to the Padres... but neither did Johnson to the Blue Jays. Verdict: innocuous.

February 24, 1977
Toronto trades Mike Weathers to Oakland for DH Ron Fairly.


Obtained:
Ron Fairly, one season in Toronto
Year  avg./obp./slg.  gms  rc  fld/rf
1977 .279/.362/.465 132 76 dh

Fairly traded to California on December 8, 1977.

Traded Away:
Mike Weathers did not play for Oakland.

Synopsis: The Jays got one good season out of Fairly, plus the return on a subsequent trade, for nothing. Verdict: good.

March 29, 1977
Toronto trades OF John Lowenstein to Cleveland for SS Hector Torres.


Obtained:
Hector Torres, one season in Toronto
Year  avg./obp./slg.  gms  rc  fld/rf
1977 .241/.282/.346 91 26 +/-

Torres released by Toronto on March 27, 1978.

Traded Away:
John Lowenstein, one season in Cleveland
Year  avg./obp./slg.  gms  rc  fld/rf
1977 .242/.335/.376 81 18 +/-

Lowenstein traded by Cleveland to Texas on February 28, 1978.

Synopsis: Cleveland wins this trade. Although neither Torres nor Lowenstein were remarkable, the Indians did get one good season of starting pitching from David Clyde, whom they had obtained for Lowenstein in a subsequent trade. Verdict: innocuous, from the Jays' perspective.

May 9, 1977
Toronto trades RP Steve Hargan and SS Jim Mason to Texas for 3B Roy Howell.


Obtained:
Roy Howell, four seasons in Toronto
Year  avg./obp./slg.  gms  rc  fld/rf
1977 .316/.386/.451 96 63 -/+
1978 .270/.325/.376 140 67 -/+
1979 .247/.310/.405 138 62 -/+
1980 .269/.335/.413__142__72__+/+

Left Toronto as a free agent on December 20, 1980.

Traded Away:
Steve Hargan, one season in Texas
Year  ip    w  l  sv  era
1977 12.3 1 0 0 8.76

Sold to California on June 15, 1977.

Jim Mason, two seasons in Texas
Year__avg./obp./slg.__gms__rc__fld/rf
1977 .218/.290/.327 36 5 +/-
1978 .190/.227/.229 55 5 -/-

Traded by Texas to Montreal on December 8, 1978.

Synopsis: The Jays got their starting third baseman for their first four seasons. The Rangers got substantially less. Verdict: good.

[Editor's Note : Join us tomorrow for Part Two of the Catalogue, Pat Gillick -- The Age Of Innocence]

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