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After a rollercoaster run with the Marlins, RHP Tom Koehler has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
@Marlins acquire minor league RHP Osman Gutierrez from TOR for RHP Tom Koehler & cash considerations. Gutierrez will join Greensboro (A).
— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) August 19, 2017
In return, the Marlins received minor league RHP Osman Gutierrez, who will join the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers. Miami will also send cash considerations to the Blue Jays in the deal.
The Blue Jays signed Gutierrez out of Nicaragua in 2012 at the age of 17 and he has slowly climbed through the ranks. The right-hander spent three seasons in the Dominican Summer League and then two years in other versions of rookie ball before finally being promoted to Single-A this season.
Gutierrez’s best season came in 2014 with the DSL Blue Jays when he posted a 1.91 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 47 innings. This season, the 22 year old has pitched 78 innings over 18 starts, putting up a 7.85 ERA. He has struck out 71 batters, but his 52 walks have been the issue.
Despite the struggles, Gutierrez’s last four starts have been promising. He has struck out 27 batters and walked just seven over 25 innings in those outings, which has earned him some praise.
#BlueJays prospect Osman Gutierrez tonight in Lansing (A)
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) August 3, 2017
7 IP - 0 ER, 4 H, BB, 10K
Tough season at times, but raw upside remains enticing
Osman Gutierrez has struck out seven batters in five innings today, and his secondary stuff is in fine form.
— Jesse G-S (@jgoldstrass) August 13, 2017
As for Koehler, it was an interesting run with the Marlins. After Miami drafted him in the 18th round of the 2008 MLB Draft, Koehler climbed the minor league ranks before making it to the big leagues briefly in 2012.
Koehler found himself in the starting rotation in 2013 and had a consistent role there for four consecutive seasons. He was arguably Miami’s most consistent starter in that span, and may have been the Marlins best starter during the second half last season.
However, 2017 has been a completely different story for the 31-year-old righty. Koehler has been back and forth between Triple-A New Orleans and the big leagues and his ERA was up to 7.92 with the Marlins. The trade rumors started early this season for the former Stony Brook Seawolf, and there was even talk that he wouldn’t return to the Marlins after one demotion.
Koehler’s last season as a Marlin was pretty ugly, but overall, he had a solid career in Miami. (We even ranked him the 52nd best Marlin of all time this offseason). Hopefully a fresh start in Toronto gives Koehler a chance to revamp his career.