Here’s a hard pill to swallow for Toronto Blue Jays fans: one of their most regrettable trades in recent memory might just be the one that let Matt Svanson slip away. And this is the part most people miss—while Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro have largely been praised for their savvy moves since taking over in 2016, this particular deal stands out as a rare misstep. Sure, they’ve had a few trades that didn’t pan out, like the Brad Hand move in 2021 or the Mitch White trade in 2022. But none sting quite like the 2023 deadline deal that sent Svanson to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Paul DeJong.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Just before the 2023 deadline, the playoff-bound Blue Jays executed three trades with the Cardinals. Among them, they shipped catching prospect Sammy Hernandez to St. Louis and acquired Jordan Hicks in exchange for Adam Kloffenstein and Sem Robberse. But it was the Svanson-for-DeJong swap that has aged like milk in the sun. Drafted in the 13th round of the 2021 draft, Svanson wasn’t exactly a household name. He posted solid, if unspectacular, numbers in his first full season with the Jays, but his performance before the trade didn’t raise any eyebrows—at least, not at the time.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Svanson’s trajectory with the Cardinals has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2024, he dominated with their Triple-A team, posting a 20.8 K% and an 8.8 BB%. By season’s end, the 26-year-old had become a cornerstone of the Cardinals’ bullpen, finishing with a 1.94 ERA and a 2.72 FIP across 60.1 innings in 39 games. His strikeout rate soared to 29.1%, and he trimmed his walk rate to 8.5%. To put that in perspective, his 2025 ERA ranked eighth among relievers, outperforming big names like Tyler Rogers, Josh Hader, and Jhoan Duran. Oh, and did we mention he’s making the league minimum for the next two seasons, with several years of arbitration control? The Cardinals essentially got a high-impact reliever for pennies on the dollar.
Now, let’s talk about Paul DeJong’s side of the story. His stint with the Blue Jays was, frankly, forgettable. After a solid run with the Cardinals from 2017 to 2019—including a 30-homer season in 2019—his production plummeted. Before the trade, he was slashing .233/.297/.412 with 13 home runs in 306 plate appearances. In Toronto, things got worse. DeJong managed a jaw-dropping .068/.068/.068 slash line in 44 plate appearances, despite getting ample opportunity due to Bo Bichette’s injury. Once Bichette returned, DeJong was designated for assignment and later signed with the Chicago White Sox. He’s since bounced around, playing for the Royals and Nationals, but his numbers have never returned to their 2019 peak.
Here’s the kicker: While the Jays’ need for a shortstop made the trade logical at the time, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Ernie Clement was tearing up Triple-A Buffalo. Sure, Svanson might not have gotten the same chance to shine in Toronto, but this trade will forever be a blemish on an otherwise impressive track record for Atkins and Shapiro. It’s a reminder that even the best front offices can whiff—and this one stings more than most.
So, here’s the question for you: Was this trade a forgivable mistake, or a glaring oversight? And if Svanson had stayed in Toronto, could he have become the bullpen ace the Jays desperately needed? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s far from over.
