As he makes his way to the Rockies via trade, watch some of his best home runs. (1:45)
The Colorado Rockies have acquired outfielder Raimel Tapia from the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Rockies will get almost $10 million in cash and Adrian Pinto in the deal.
After hitting a grand slam in a spring training game, Grichuk was dealt to Toronto, where he played in center and right field.
Grichuk is owed $18.7 million over the final two seasons of his five-year contract, but the cash going to Colorado will offset a little of that.
Toronto will pay Colorado $9,716,333 this year and $4,333,333 in 2023, covering a little more than half the $18.66 million owed to Grichuk, who has salaries of $9.33 million in each of the next two seasons.
Grichuk has 156 career home runs, including a career-high 31 in 2019.
Grichuk was signed to a long-term deal by the Blue jays, but he wasn't assured of a starting job. George Springer is in the center of the field.
After the 2023 season, Tapia is eligible for free agency after a one-year contract.
The signing of Kris Bryant, a free agent infielder/outfielder, had a big impact on Tapia, who was penciled in as the team's left fielder before Bryant's arrival. Tapia became the odd-outer-out with Sam Hilliard in center and Charlie Blackmon in right.
Tapia, who hits from the left side, had a career-high 20 stolen bases last season, tying him for the team lead. He hit.273 with 6 homers and 50 runs.
In 2020 Tapia got a boost in playing time with Ian Desmond opting out of the season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Tapia had a career-best.321 average that season.
Pinto was named the Most Valuable Player in the Dominican Summer League. He stole a league-leading 41 bases. The 19-year-old was an international free agent.
The report was contributed to by the Associated Press.
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