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In his final appearance as a Blue Jay, a sensational performance in which he hit a pair of home runs before the Rogers Center roof collapsed on his team, Teoscar Hernandez earned a standing ovation and curtains.

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Who knew it was going to be a farewell for the popular slugger, who in many ways was the heartbeat of the Jays offense? From our newsroom to your midday inbox, the latest headlines, stories, opinions and photos from the Toronto Sun. By clicking the subscribe button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

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That end came Wednesday, when general manager Ross Atkins sparked what will almost certainly be a busy offseason by dealing Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners for a pair of pitchers.

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Coming to the Jays are right-handed reliever Erik Swanson – who will add some much-needed swing and miss to the bullpen – and intriguing left-hander Adam Macko, one of the M’s top prospects. Both in making the deal and in discussing it afterward, Atkins actually hinted that this is just the beginning. “(Hernandez) has been a huge part of this transition from an interesting team to a competitive team,” Atkins said on a Zoom call. “We will miss him. We got to the point where acquisitions on the run prevention side would help us.

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“(We’ll) continue to look for more pitches and a more versatile offense.” In other words, if you think the team is smaller today without Hernandez, you’re right. But the project has just begun for a front office that has sent a clear message about its intentions. Hernandez’s move now made financial sense given that he is scheduled to be a free agent in 2024 and there were no signs of serious extension talks between the parties. A middle presence over the past three seasons, Hernandez’s production should be replaced in the Jays lineup, ideally with a left-handed bat. And there’s no doubt that it will be a priority for GM. “We have a decent idea of ​​where the opportunities are going to be through trade, through free agency, to make our team better,” Atkins said.

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Where that leads the team remains to be seen, but with three catchers there is some currency and trade and more is freed up in cash given the $14 million Hernandez was set to make in his final year of arbitration. As with Wednesday’s deal in particular, there are implications for both the bullpen and the outfield. First with the relievers, in Swanson they get a swing-and-miss arm that has been a depth strength for so many of the teams that have had postseason success. Swanson, 29, appeared in 57 games for the Mariners in 2022, posting career bests with a 1.68 ERA and 0.91 WHIP while striking out 70. On a team-friendly contract, he immediately steps into the back end of a bullpen that with another high-impact arm could emerge as a nice force for 2023.

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Addressing the bullpen has been a clear priority since the day the Jays were cut by Hernandez’s new team and frankly, probably long before that fateful day. “He’s coming off a really remarkable year striking out both sides of the plate on a regular basis and a very high strikeout rate with a well-above-average weapon in his breakdown,” Atkins said of Swanson, whose appeal has been boosted by that he is under team control for the next three seasons. “He will complement us well and can really play in any innings. The hits are big. It’s been talked about a lot, for good reason. It’s an opportunity for us to improve.” As for the outside, it’s clear the job isn’t done. On Wednesday, the Jays parted ways with Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer, designating both players for assignment, a precursor to the Hernandez trade. Although Atkins suggested the team can move forward with the bodies currently on the roster, that seems doubtful.

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Also, the team will consider sliding George Springer to right field if another center fielder is acquired via trade or free agency. “We’re fortunate that George can play center and we’re open to him being flexible for us like he’s been in the past,” Atkins said. Given all the potential moving parts – and the financial implications – it’s nearly impossible to grade this trade until the rest of the offseason is done. There’s no doubt that Hernandez’s departure will be felt in the clubhouse (where he was a popular and positive leader), in the stands (where he was a fan favorite) and in the lineup (where his batting was elite, hitting 57. The home run on both previous seasons.) Don’t discount any of these factors, the byproduct of what may have been Atkins’ smartest trade as GM when he acquired Hernandez from the Houston Astros in 2017 for Francisco Liriano. But with Swanson, the run prevention element is better, especially given the versatility he offers to knock down both left-handers and right-handers. And most importantly, it’s what comes next. Atkins didn’t trade a top player without plans to complete a much more complex scheme. At the very least, the deal was both a signal of what’s to come and an acknowledgment from the front office that the 2022 edition wasn’t good enough to reach the heights of baseball’s elite.

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