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The Blue Jays and Marlins both made their second trade of the day as the clock struck 3:00 p.m.
Toronto is acquiring infielder Jonathan Villar from Miami, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The return for Villar has yet to be reported.
Blue Jays get Villar, source tells The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 31, 2020
The Blue Jays will rely on Villar to fill in at shortstop until young sensation Bo Bichette returns from his injury. Meanwhile, Miami felt comfortable parting with Villar because Isan Díaz has returned to the team and is awaiting reinstatement from the league after originally opting out in June.
The main reason why Villar was dealt, is that Isan Díaz has returned to the club. Awaiting MLB joint committee reinstatement in Jupiter. Will take over as starter at 2B. Díaz opted out in July. He is back.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) August 31, 2020
Villar is slashing .272/.328/.360 in 29 games this year with nine RBI on 31 hits. He has struck out 31 times while walking in just 10 plate appearances. A career .261 hitter, Villar has posted 0.3 fWAR this season and averages 97 wRC+ per year. Villar’s 24.6 percent strikeout rate is his lowest since 2015 and the second-lowest of his career.
This is Miami’s second trade of the day after they acquired Starling Marte from the Diamondbacks. Toronto also made a move with Arizona today, acquiring starter Robbie Ray in a two-player trade.