Brandon Drury's season started with blurry vision but after he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, his next step is a lot clearer. Drury was acquired by the New York Yankees in a three-team trade in the offseason but a lingering impairment and a stacked roster forced him to play in 61 minor league games. Last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Drury slashed a productive .267/.317/.447 with 13 home runs and 63 runs batted in. “It definitely was not what I expected this season to be like as a Yankee, but it happened,’’ Drury said to reporters after the trade was announced. OFFICIAL: We've acquired INF/OF Brandon Drury and minor league OF Billy McKinney from the @Yankees in exchange for LHP J.A. Happ. pic.twitter.com/PMoFXvcnYm — Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 26, 2018 The 25-year-old appeared in just 18 games with the Yankees, slashing 176/.263/.275, despite beginning the year as New York's starting third baseman. Drury complained of migraine-like symptoms after eight games this season and claimed it has been an issue for years. Drury was placed on the disabled list and rookie Miguel Andujar stepped in at the hot corner and never relinquished the job. The versatile Drury was thereby a useful player -- one who would be a starting infielder on several teams -- but also an expendable piece for the Yankees. New York turned their infield depth into a starting rotation upgrade while Toronto used its most coveted trade chip to solidify the infield for years to come. Blue Jays infield Former American League Most Valuable Player Josh Donaldson is set to hit free agency at season's end, which could leave an opening at third base. Donaldson is currently on the DL and trying to come back to the field, which also makes him an August waiver-deadline trade candidate. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has not appeared in a game this season and outside of a recent update that he's doing baseball activities, not much else is known. The five-time All-Star is under contract for at least another two seasons with a $15 million team option or a $4 million buyout in 2021. However, given Tulowitzki's decorated injury past, relying on him long-term is not in the Blue Jays' best interests. SIGN UP to watch MLB games on MLB Network LIVE in Canada on DAZN The value of acquiring Drury is the Blue Jays receive a proven player who has experience at every position except centerfield and catcher and his under team control as an arbitration-eligible player through 2021. For the rest of the season, Drury will play third base, second base, and possibly corner outfield, per Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. Toronto's infielders have been notified they will lose playing time as Drury becomes a regular part of the rotation, Zwelling adds. "When [Donaldson] comes back it'll be really cluttered up," manager John Gibbins said. "He'll be our third baseman. So, we'll just have to wait and see." Toronto boasts a young, cost-effective and controllable infield for the future. On the MLB roster alone, the Blue Jays feature shortstop Aledmys Diaz and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Diaz was acquired in the winter as insurance for Tulowitzki and the young shortstop is under contract through 2023 while Gurriel is signed through 2023. In the minors, the Blue Jays' top prospects are third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette. Guerrero, 19, has dominated the minors this season, batting over .400 while Bichette, 20, is fresh off his second appearance at the Futures Game. Neither has appeared in the majors yet but their success in the farm system, combined with their pedigree, makes the duo likely candidates to contribute in the MLB sometime soon. More: MLB trade deadline 2018: Breaking down J.A. Happ deal between Blue Jays, Yankees Current Toronto third baseman, Yangervis Solarte has been rumored as a possible trade deadline candidate. He is signed through 2020 but has team options in his contract the next two seasons. First baseman Justin Smoak is headed for free agency after 2019, so first base is another position where Drury could see playing time. Drury overview An MLB scout told Sporting News in late June that the Blue Jays could likely net "one top-10 prospect and a few lesser pieces" in return for Happ. The organization instead secured outfielder Billy McKinney, ranked by MLB.com as New York's 20th prospect in addition to Drury. McKinney is ranked as the Blue Jays' 18th-best prospect as Drury joins the MLB team. While Drury's move from the Yankees to the Blue Jays means he will play for a postseason team, it does mean he will play consistently. “I’m excited to go over there, get in the lineup and finish the season out strong,” Drury said. Given the Blue Jays' infield depth both in the majors and in the minors, it's possible that Drury's future in Toronto is that of a trade chip. This time, however, he will have a chance to prove himself on a major league diamond before the Blue Jays make that decision.<doc-sep>Prior to kicking off their second half of the season against the cross-town rival Mets, the Yankees announced they have recalled Brandon Drury from Triple-A. Prior to tonight's game, the Yankees recalled INF/OF Brandon Drury from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. — New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 20, 2018 Drury’s time with the Yanks has been quite the ride. He was acquired in the offseason as part of a three-team trade with the Rays and Diamondbacks, and many believed he would compete for the starting third base job. However, he was placed on the DL after just eight games, on April 7, with migraines and blurred vision. By the time he returned, a red hot Miguel Andujar had the hot corner on lock. The 25-year-old was assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 14, and wouldn’t make another Big League appearance until June 30. He was sent down yet again on July 9 after a doubleheader with Baltimore and has been there ever since. In 15 games this season, the utility man is hitting .178 with a homer and seven RBI across 45 at bats.<doc-sep>Share this Story: Drury has burning desire to prove Blue Jays were right to nab him Drury has burning desire to prove Blue Jays were right to nab him Article content CHICAGO — Brandon Drury sat inside the visiting dugout at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday, talking to the media about how excited and happy he is to be with the Blue Jays. But there was no kidding around, no smiles, no playful banter as he spoke to Toronto reporters for the first time since being traded to the Jays from the Yankees on Thursday in the J.A. Happ deal. Drury is clearly a serious young man and a young man who is on a mission to prove to the baseball world that he is destined to become a standout major leaguer — even if there are as many naysayers as supporters as to what he brings to the table as a ball player. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Drury has burning desire to prove Blue Jays were right to nab him Back to video “(The Jays) just said, ‘be ready to play. You’re going to play and we want to see what you got.’ And that’s what I’m here for — to do what I know I can do,” said the 25-year-old. “Now it’s my job to go out there and prove that (GM Ross Atkins) was right (to trade for him).” Drury comes across as quietly confident. He talked of his frustrations with the Yankees this season and the fact that he has not had his breakthrough in the major leagues as of yet. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “It’s been a really, really frustrating season,” the so-called super utility player said. “(But) I think overall (what’s happened this season is) going to make me a better player, just going through that. I was a decent player for a few years (in the big leagues) and to get sent down twice after having a little bit of success in the big leagues previously wasn’t easy on me. But I feel like it’s made me even hungrier and even more ready to go out and do what I know I can do.” The Yankees acquired Drury from the Diamondbacks in February and the Grants Pass, Ore., native was New York’s starting third baseman out of spring training. However, he left a game on April 6 because of blurred vision and migraines, a problem he has experienced for years. Drury was then placed on the DL and eventually optioned to triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. Meanwhile, the Yanks promoted Miguel Andujar and haven’t looked back. Andujar quickly established himself as one of the best young third baseman in the game, leaving Drury expendable. He made it clear on Friday that the baseball world has not seen the best of him. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “I feel like there’s a lot left in the tank and I’m here to prove that,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep doing what I do and get my work in and be prepared every day and I trust the results are going to come.” Manager John Gibbons said he is going to give Drury ample opportunity to show what he’s got, even though there’s a log jam in the infield now. Drury didn’t start on Friday night (he has a bruised left hand) but will likely play a lot at the hot corner. But he’ll also play some second and perhaps in the outfield. In 307 career MLB games, Drury is batting .267/.316/.439 with 32 home runs and 131 RBIs. “I’ve heard good things,” said Gibbons. “He’s here to play. I’ve talked to the other infielders, it’s going to cut into everybody’s playing time a little bit because we have to make sure they all play. But he’ll be in there a lot.” We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Toronto Sun Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Toronto SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of The Toronto Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending<doc-sep>McKinney was dealt to Toronto on Thursday along with Brandon Drury in exchange for J.A. Happ, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. McKinney got his first taste of the big leagues in late March when he faced off against his future team in Toronto. That wound up being the only series he played in for the Yankees this year due to a shoulder injury he suffered in his second game, and he spent the rest of the 2018 campaign at the Triple-A level. Across 54 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he hit .230/.294/.502 with 13 home runs and 32 RBI. He likely requires a bit more seasoning in the minors, so look for him to report to Triple-A Buffalo within the next couple days.<doc-sep>
Brandon Drury’s Yankees tenure came to an end Thursday, a five-month stint that was marred by health concerns. The infielder was dealt with outfield prospect Billy McKinney for Blue Jays lefthander J.A. Happ. “I’m excited to go over there, get in the lineup and finish the season out strong,” said Drury, who hit .176 in 18 games this season after being acquired from Arizona in February. He was the team’s Opening Day third baseman but was placed on the disabled list in early April with severe migraines. He later revealed he had dealt with blurry vision for years, including when he was in the batter’s box. He was activated on May 14 and sent to Triple-A, where he hit .294 with a .403 on-base percentage in a 55-game stint. It still was not enough to get his big-league job back as his replacement, Miguel Andjuar, took the third-base spot and ran with it. “I had bad breaks along the way,” said Drury, 25, who returned to the Yankees on June 30 in a platoon role. “ I was in there and just had stuff happen that was wasn’t planned, that was unexpected. Baseball is a crazy game . . . It just didn’t work out.” Drury added that he does not regret his decision to make his vision issues known. “I have a long career ahead of me,” he said. “I was happy to figure some answers out rather than keep playing through it.” “This is a big-league player we’ve had to have in Triple-A for a lot of the year, just because of all that transpired early in the season,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Sometimes this game is not necessarily fair. To his credit, he’s been a pro the whole time.” Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Drury made his big-league debut in Arizona in 2015 as a September call-up before splitting the next two seasons at third base, second base and the outfield. He hit .271 with a .767 on-base plus slugging percentage in three seasons with the Diamondbacks and was traded to the Yankees in a three-team deal with Tampa Bay. General manager Brian Cashman said he traded for Drury with the intention of starting him at third while Andujar developed in the minor leagues. “It didn’t play out the way we expected, because clearly he had been playing with a condition that he had concealed from Arizona and revealed here,” Cashman said. “I’m proud of how our medical team really drilled down heavily on trying to determine what was bothering him . . . While all that was taking place, here comes Miguel Andujar, knocking the door down, taking his opportunity and saying ‘I’m not going to give it back.’ ” Andujar entered Thursday’s game hitting .294 with 12 home runs and an .828 OPS. Drury said he will miss his teammates but is looking forward to getting more playing time in Toronto. “I want to be in a lineup,” he said. “I want to be playing every day. I loved it here. These guys are unbelievable, made it fun to be here. At the same time, I’m really excited to be a Blue Jay.” Said Boone, “I have a lot of respect for Brandon, the way he handled things here. Hopefully this is a fresh opportunity for him where he can go and let his talent show.”