Blue Jays acquire IF Solarte from Padres

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[January 08, 2018]    The Toronto Blue Jays struck a deal with the San Diego Padres to acquire versatile infielder Yangervis Solarte on Saturday.

 

Heading back to San Diego in the trade is outfield prospect Edward Olivares and minor-league reliever Jared Carkuff.

Solarte, 30, is coming off a season in which he hit .255/.314/.416 with a career-high 18 home runs and 64 RBIs in 128 games for the Padres. He saw time at all four infield positions, primarily playing second base after spending most of 2014-16 at the hot corner.

The Padres rewarded Solarte after the 2016 season with a two-year, $7.5 million extension that includes club options for 2019 ($5.5 million) and 2020 ($8 million). He is set to make $4.125 million next season.

In Toronto, Solarte figures to provide valuable middle-infield depth for the Jays, as shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and second baseman Devon Travis have both proven to be injury-prone in recent seasons.

The move helps to clear space in the infield for the Padres after acquiring third baseman Chase Headley and shortstop Freddy Galvis in separate trades earlier this offseason. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Urias, two of San Diego's top prospects who both reached Double-A last season, are also middle infielders.

Olivares, 21, hit .269/.327/.468 with 17 home runs, 10 triples and 20 stolen bases between Toronto's Class A affiliates in Lansing and Dunedin last season.

Carkuff, 24, posted a 3.86 ERA in 34 games across four levels of the minors in 2017, primarily spending the year in Lansing. He struck out 51 batters in 63 innings.

--Field Level Media

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