Blue Jays make trade, acquire former top prospect

The Toronto Blue Jays have added some infield depth by acquiring former top prospect Luis Urías from the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. While the move may not generate major headlines across baseball, it represents a low-risk addition with intriguing upside for a Blue Jays team that has dealt with injuries and inconsistent production throughout its infield this season. Urías will initially report to Triple-A Buffalo, but if he continues to hit the way he has all season, it may not be long before he gets an opportunity north of the border.

MORE: MLB Power Rankings: New team takes over number 1 spot

Once One Of Baseball’s Brightest Prospects

There was a time when Urías was viewed as one of the most promising young infielders in baseball. After signing with the San Diego Padres as an international free agent in 2013, he quickly climbed through the minor league system. His breakout came as a teenager when he won both the batting title and MVP honors in the California League at just 19 years old.

Advertisement

The accolades continued to pile up. By 2018, MLB Pipeline ranked him as the second-best second base prospect in baseball, and prior to the 2019 season, Baseball Prospectus listed him among the top 20 prospects in the entire sport. Expectations were understandably high.

Career Has Taken A Different Path

Before the 2020 season, the Padres traded Urías to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he put together two productive seasons and looked like he was establishing himself as a long-term big league contributor.

Unfortunately, consistency became an issue after that. Despite receiving opportunities with the Brewers, Red Sox, Mariners, and Athletics organizations, Urías was never able to lock down a permanent role at the major league level. That doesn’t mean the talent disappeared.

Advertisement

Dominating Triple-A In 2026

Urías has yet to appear in a major league game this season, but his performance in Triple-A has been impossible to ignore. In 27 games with Arizona’s top affiliate, he posted a remarkable .361 batting average and consistently showed the offensive ability that once made him one of baseball’s most highly regarded prospects.

The Blue Jays are hoping that production carries over. Toronto has battled multiple injuries across the roster, and some players who starred last season are having a down season in 2026. If Urías continues swinging a hot bat in Buffalo, he could quickly force his way into the conversation for a promotion. For the Blue Jays, it’s a low-cost move with potentially significant upside. Sometimes, all a former top prospect needs is another opportunity.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —