The Toronto Blue Jays made their first big move of the second half in a five player deal trading starting shortstop Alex Gonzalez, along with minor league left hander Tim Collins & minor league infielder Tyler Pastornicky to the Atlanta Braves for shortstop Yunel Escobar & pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes.

The 27 year old Escobar, who has struggled this season for Atlanta was batting .238 with 0HR & 19RBI with a .334 on-base percentage in 261 at-bats across 75 ball games, will take over as the Blue Jays everyday shortstop.

Escobar, the Braves heir-apparent to Rafael Furcal at the shortstop position in Atlanta had a fine season last year hitting .299 with 14HR & 76RBI with a .979 fielding percentage and features a terrific arm at the position.

The move by Atlanta was a big surprise as they really did see big things coming from Escobar at the position and viewed him as one of the top defensive shortstops in all of baseball. Prior to his struggles this season Atlanta had deemed him untouchable, but with their current playoff race the team obviously sacrificed Escobar’s potential for a veteran presence at the position.

Gonzalez is having a career year hitting 17HR & 50RBI while batting .259 in the first half of the season alone. He is also a sound defensive player and former Gold Glove winner, who will add veteran leadership to a team already chalk full of experience.

Alex Gonzalez was having a career year for Toronto.

Escobar will be arbitration eligible for the first time after this season so the Jays will have the player under team control through 2013 which is exactly what general manager Alex Anthopoulos has been seeking all year.

Anthopoulos has stated on numerous occasions that he wants young, controllable players in return as part of any deal.

Anthopoulos obviously sold very high on the acquisition of Gonzalez, who was owed $1.23 million for the remainder of this year and has a $2.5 million club option for 2011.

In Reyes the Jays acquire another young starting pitcher to add to the fold of talented young arms they already possess. Reyes is a 25 year old left-hander who has not shown much at the Major League level posting a career record of 5-15 with an earned run average of 6.40 in 194 innings pitched. He spent the majority of this season pitching at the Triple A level and has been ranked as high as the eighth best prospect in the Braves organization in the past.

The Jays gave up Collins, a 20 year old lefty, who ranked 19th among Blue Jays prospects heading into this season. The under-sized pitcher stands 5’7 and is considered to be nothing more than a reliever even if he maxs out his potential.

Pastornicky is a 20 year old shortstop, who ranked 17th among Blue Jays prospects who does not have what you would call “star potential”, but flashes a nice line drive swing and could potentially become a top of the order type hitter who plays solid all-around baseball.

The move was obviously one made by Atlanta to strengthen their second half playoff run, while the Jays have acquired exactly what Alex Anthopoulos has been looking for since he took over as general manager of the ball club. A young, controllable starting shortstop with star potential that could become a key part of the Jays future. If Escobar can turn around this season and break away from the “flamboyant, arrogant” player with a lackadaisical attitude some in the Braves organization labeled him the Jays may have just made a huge steal from the Braves.

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