Former first-round busts are traded between the Blue Jays and the White Sox

Blue Jays And White Sox Swap Former First-round Busts

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago White Sox are trading a pair of catchers who were both picked in the first round, but why?

What are the similarities between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago White Sox? Both teams are members of the American League. This year, each team should contend for a postseason berth. They appeared to agree as well that it was time to make a deal.

The Blue Jays traded catcher Reese McGuire to the White Sox on the final Sunday before Opening Day in exchange for catcher Zack Collins.

The Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a trade that will send catcher Zack Collins to the Blue Jays in exchange for catcher Reese McGuire, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 3, 2022

This duo of former first-round draft picks is switching teams. It would have been a spectacular deal a few years ago, with the potential to change the course of each organization’s future. It’s a tiny change in April 2022, with significantly fewer ramifications.

The Blue Jays and White Sox are making deals only to make deals

McGuire’s professional career began in 2013, when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him 14th overall. He was traded to the Blue Jays along with Francisco Liriano and Harold Ramirez in exchange for Drew Hutchison. He debuted in the big leagues in 2018 and has played in a few games each year since.

However, batting.248/.297/.390 in 400 plate appearances wasn’t enough for the Blue Jays to consider him anything more than a backup.

He is, unfortunately, well known for an arrest that did not help him gain favor with the group.

Collins’ professional career may have started in 2013, when he was drafted in the 27th round by the Cincinnati Reds. He didn’t sign and was later picked by the White Sox as the tenth overall pick in 2016. He had a few underwhelming minor league seasons until 2019, when he hit 19 home runs in Triple-A while slashing.282/.403/.548.

The success in the minor levels did not carry over to the major leagues. Collins leaves Chicago with a gift that will last a lifetime. With a slash line of 195/.315/.330, he doesn’t have much of a chance of being much more than a journeyman backup.

Because of how insignificant it appears, this is one of those late-season changes that goes unnoticed. That is exactly what is going on. At the same spot, two first-round busts are switching outfits.

This transaction is unlikely to produce a winner. It’s a trade just to get things done.