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Trade Tree: How failing to sign their 2011 first-round pick led to the Blue Jays acquiring Marcus Stroman and José Berríos

There was a time when the Toronto Blue Jays failed to sign first-round picks. It hasn’t been an issue since Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro took over in 2016, but under Alex Anthopoulos, the Blue Jays failed to sign three…

By Cynthia Ryley Delaney · Blue Jays Nation

Published: Friday, 30 October 2026 at 9:00 PM

Key Things to Know

Failing to sign 2011 pick Tyler Beede led the Blue Jays to acquire Marcus Stroman and José Berríos.
Toronto received a 2012 compensatory draft pick for Beede, using it to select pitcher Marcus Stroman.
Stroman was traded to the New York Mets in 2019 for Simeon Woods Richardson and Anthony Kay.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Failing to sign 2011 first-round draft pick Tyler Beede ultimately enabled the Toronto Blue Jays to acquire All-Star pitchers Marcus Stroman and José Berríos through a connected trade tree. After Beede chose to attend Vanderbilt, the Blue Jays received a compensatory 22nd overall pick in the 2012 draft, which they used to select Stroman.

Stroman developed into an All-Star before being traded to the New York Mets in 2019 for Simeon Woods Richardson and Anthony Kay. Toronto subsequently packaged Woods Richardson and Austin Martin in a permanent trade to the Minnesota Twins in 2021 to land Berríos, completing a chain of transactions stemming from Beede's decision.

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