Light the lanterns. The Blue Jays have obtained Ben Revere in a trade with the Phillies, as first reported by MLB.com.
.@BlueJays to acquire OF Ben Revere from @Phillies, reports @ToddZolecki. Clubs have not confirmed. #MLBOnTheMove pic.twitter.com/s8DBgTfseO
— MLB (@MLB) July 31, 2015MORE: Best deadline day deals of the 2000s | Remember Rickey Henderson in Toronto?
Revere said Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos told him he'd start against right-handed pitching, becoming a part of a platoon.
Revere may switch to left field on occasion, where the Blue Jays have split time between several outfielders in the wake of Michael Saunders' injury. Veterans Chris Colabello and Danny Valencia have often filled the void ably, hitting .312/.356/.483 and .296/.331/.506 respectively.
Revere could also potentially replace Blue Jays centerfielder Kevin Pillar (also getting shifts in left field) in certain lineups, who is hitting .271/.305/.390 with 102 hits and 15 stolen bases for the season. Revere represents a marginal improvement in most categories, having compiled a .298/.334/.374 slash line, 109 hits and 24 stolen bases in Philadelphia. Pillar actually grades out better per Baseball-Reference WAR due to superior defense.
Revere does improve against right-handed pitching. This season, he has hit .320/.355/.404 against right-handers, having compiled 10 of his 13 doubles in those at-bats.
Even if Toronto brought on Revere for an offensive boost, the move seems redundant. The Blue Jays have already scored 58 more runs than the nearest team, and also lead Major League Baseball in total bases, while ranking second in on-base percentage. They do, however, rank 14th in stolen bases. But that has hardly hurt them with a line of power hitters waiting to drive baserunners home.
Alongside the Troy Tulowitzki acquisition, Revere could potentially take the leadoff spot in the batting order, presenting a possible one-two-three-four punch of Revere, Tulowitzki, Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, followed by the able bats of Edward Encarnacion and Colabello, currently hitting .312/.356/.483. This assumes the Blue Jays continue to trot out the lineup they featured upon Tulowitzki's arrival. Revere's arrival could shake it up.
The Phillies will receive pitchers Jimmy Cordero and Alberto Tirado, according to CSN Philly. Cordero has a 2.70 ERA between Single-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire this season. Tirado, still in Dunedin, has made 31 relief appearances, in which he has garnered an ERA of 3.23 and nine strikeouts per nine innings.