The Blue Jays were long viewed as a potential trade partner for the Red Sox, as Toronto was poised to sell and rostered a number of players who could help address Boston’s variety of needs.
The American League East rivals ultimately swung a deal Saturday, but the pact was centered around a player who few had their eyes on.
The Red Sox sent three minor-league players north of the border to acquire Danny Jansen from their division foe. Boston’s catching situation was in a pretty good spot leading up to the MLB trade deadline, but as Alex Cora explained Sunday, the addition of Jansen should help the club maximize its roster.
Justin Turner certainly believes the 29-year-old will be able to help the Red Sox. Turner, who played last season in Boston, texted Cora after the trade and told his former manager that Jansen was “a good pickup,” per The Boston Globe.
The seventh-year pro made a good first impression with his new team Sunday evening. While the Red Sox fell to the Yankees in primetime, Jansen was one of two Boston starters to log multiple hits against New York in the series finale.
Jansen is set to reunite with Turner and the Blue Jays next month when the sides meet for their penultimate regular-season series of the campaign. The set could feature a rare and bizarre scenario for Jansen due to a postponed late-June matchup.
