Jason Grilli

Blue Jays finalize trade with Atlanta for Jason Grilli

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-handed pitcher Jason Grilli from the Atlanta Braves for right-handed pitcher Sean Ratcliffe.

What It Means:

Grilli has posted an ugly 5.29 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and is fanning 12.18 hitters per nine frames across 17 innings this season, but the Blue Jays apparently believe he has something left in the tank. The 39-year-old right-hander will presumably join up with the Blue Jays on Wednesday in Toronto. He figures to pitch in low-leverage situations initially. Ratcliffe was an 18th-round pick of the Jays in 2013 and he owns a 4.91 ERA in 62 1/3 professional innings, all below High-A ball. The young right-hander (he turned 21 in April) is more a project than a prospect.

Grilli's 5.22 xFIP is not much better than his ERA, but his 28.4 strikeout percentage is impressive. Our models currently project him to record a 3.79 ERA and a 26.9 strikeout percentage over the remaining course of the season, so we'll see if this move impacts those numbers. The Blue Jays' 4.14 reliever xFIP ranks ninth-worst in the bigs.