The Blue Jays and Guardians are in agreement on a four-player trade sending second baseman to Toronto. The Jays get Gimnez and reliever for infielder and outfield prospect . No cash is changing hands, so the Jays are absorbing the final five years of the Gimnez contract. Its the first out of nowhere trade of the Winter Meetings. While its never a complete shock to see Cleveland deal a high-priced player, there hadnt been much to suggest they were shopping their Gold Glove second baseman. Gimnez appeared to be a core piece since he signed one of the biggest contracts in franchise history just two seasons back: a seven-year, $106.5MM extension. Instead, the defensive stalwart is on the move for the second time in his career. Gimnez began his career with the Mets, where his well-rounded profile made him one of the systems top prospects. Cleveland acquired him alongside as the key pieces in their return for and during the 2020-21 offseason. Gimnez struggled during his first year in Cleveland, but he had a breakout showing in 2022. He played plus defense to win his first Gold Glove. Gimnez also turned in an impact season at the plate, hitting .297/.371/.466 with 17 homers acro s 557 plate appearances. He was a deserved All-Star and finished sixth in MVP balloting in the American League. Following that breakout season, the Guardians signed Gimnez to the aforementioned extension. It remains the second-largest investment in the organizations history, not too far behind the $124MM deal which inked the preceding spring. Cleveland surely envisioned building their long-term infield around that duo. Thats not quite how things played out, as Gimnezs bat has taken a step backward. The Guardians probably didnt expect him to repeat the offensive production he managed in 2022. He had a lofty .353 average on balls in play that would be hard to maintain, nor was he likely to be hit by as many pitches (an AL-high 25) as hed been that year. Gimnezs numbers probably dropped off more sharply than Cleveland anticipated, though, as he has been a below-average hitter in consecutive seasons. In 2023, the lefty-swinging Gimnez hit .251/.314/.399 with 15 homers acro s 616 plate appearances. He improved his contact skills but saw his walk rate and power numbers take a step back. Those trends continued this year. Gimnez managed just nine homers in 633 trips to the plate. He kept his strikeout rate to a tidy 15.3% clip but drew walks at a career-low 4.1% mark. He wrapped up the year with a middling .252/.298/.340 slash his weakest offensive output over his three full seasons in Cleveland. Despite the concerning offensive trends, Gimnez remains a valuable all-around player. He has stolen 30 bases in consecutive seasons and is a good overall baserunner. He hasnt had an injured list stint since 2020 and has topped 140 games in each of the last three seasons. Most significantly, hes the sports best Kevin Kelly Jersey defensive second baseman. Gimnez has been named the ALs Gold Glove winner in three straight years. He has racked up 59 Defensive Runs Saved over that stretch. Thats well above 37 mark that ranks second at the position. Statcasts Outs Above Average doesnt point to quite as big a discrepancy (49 to 40), but both metrics consider Gimnez the games best keystone defender. The Jays have poked around the market at second and third base. They have a handful of young players who are capable of manning one or both of those positions , , , , and among them but its a group light on MLB experience. Gimnez has a much higher floor in the middle infield. Hell play second base for at least the upcoming season. Thats probably his long-term home, though he could be an answer at shortstop if walks next offseason. Gimnez came up as a shortstop. He hasnt played there since 2022, but hes an athletic enough defender that he could probably handle the position. The Jays are taking on a decent chunk of money to make that happen. Gimnez is under contract for at least the next five seasons. Hell make $10MM next year, $15MM in 26, and $23MM annually for the final three guaranteed years. Theres a $23MM club option for the 2030 campaign that comes with a $2.5MM buyout. The deal also calls for a $1MM a signment bonus in the event of a trade. Including that bonus, Gimnez is guaranteed $97.5MM for his age 26-30 campaigns. calculates the Jays projected luxury tax number around $229MM, putting them roughly $12MM below next years base threshold. Toronto also deepens a subpar middle relief group with the Sandlin acquisition. The low-slot righty has a solid track record over four years in the big leagues. Sandlin, who turns 28 next month, carries a 3.27 earned run average acro s 195 1/3 career innings. Despite a pedestrian 92-93 MPH fastball, he has shown the ability to mi s bats. Sandlin carries a career 27.7% strikeout rate, which he e sentially matched over 57 2/3 frames this past season. The Southern Mi s product has middling control. Sandlin walked 11% of batters faced this year, right in line with his 11.4% overall walk percentage. Thatll probably keep him in the middle innings rather than leverage work, but Sandlins four-pitch mix has helped him avoid the platoon i sues that plague many pen arms. The Jays are desperate for any kind of reliability in the bullpen. Only the Rockies had a worse relief group this year. Toronto subsequently moved on from , and . Theyre in agreement to bring back on a free agent deal, but they could use as many as four or five relief acquisitions this winter. Sandlin has a little le s than four years of MLB service. Hes entering his second of four arbitration seasons after qualifying early as a Super Two player. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a $1.6MM salary next year. He should remain affordable over his three years of club control. The biggest appeal for Cleveland is offloading the expensive portion of Gimnezs contract. Horwitz, 27, provides them with an upper level depth infielder. The lefty-hitting Horwitz has shown offensive promise both in Triple-A and the big leagues. He turned in an impre sive .265/.357/.433 batting line over 381 plate appearances this year. Horwitz picked up 12 homers and 19 doubles while showing excellent strike zone awarene s. He walked at an 11% clip while striking out 18.4% of the time. Horwitz has a stellar minor league track record. Hes a career .316/.433/.471 hitter with nearly as many walks as strikeouts in 208 Triple-A games. He clearly has offensive ability, but hes yet to get a full MLB run because of a lack of defensive value. Horwitz has been a first baseman for most of his minor league career. His 510 frame and hit-over-power approach are rare at that position. The Jays used him as part of their second base mix as well, but teams dont seem to view him as an everyday player there. The lack of defensive flexibility made Horwitz a tough fit on a team with Hes similarly squeezed in Cleveland. would be the first baseman if hes not traded. could take over even if the Guardians move Naylor. Horwitz still has a minor league option, so he could go back to Triple-A, but he has nothing left to prove there offensively. Itd be a surprise if a Cleveland team that emphasizes infield defense is willing to use him as their regular second baseman. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet that Horwitz might end up being flipped to a third team. In any case, the Guardians will need to find a new second baseman. is on the 40-man roster and hit .256/.365/.443 during his age-22 season in Triple-A. Hes a potential regular, though thered be risk for Cleveland in relying on a player who has yet to make his MLB debut. The Guards could pursue a stopgap via free agency or trade if they want to add some stability coming off a division title. Over the longer term, the move opens second base for this years first overall pick . The Oregon State product profiles as a quick-moving second baseman who could get to the majors by the end of next season if all goes well. Mitchell, a 21-year-old outfielder, rounds out the return. Toronto just drafted the Indiana product in the fourth round. A left-handed batter, Mitchell hit .289/.350/.467 in 22 games as a college draftee in Low-A. wrote in its draft report that Mitchell had good contact skills and above-average speed that gave him a shot to stick in center field. He probably projects as a fourth or fifth outfielder. first reported the Jays and Guardians were finalizing a Gimnez deal. was first with Horwitzs inclusion. had Sandlin going to the Jays, while was first to report the full trade and the absence of cash considerations. Images courtesy of USA Today Sports. Taylor Walls Jersey