The Blue Jays introduced that they’ve signed left-hander Josh Walker to a one-year contract. Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, the southpaw will make $760K, which is subsequent yr’s league minimal. Proper-hander Hagen Danner has been designated for task because the corresponding transfer.
Walker, 30, has somewhat little bit of main league expertise. He tossed 22 1/3 innings with the Mets over the previous two seasons, permitting 6.45 earned runs per 9 in that small pattern. He struck out 22.7% of batters confronted whereas giving out walks at an 11.7% clip. He was designated for task by the Mets in July and flipped to the Pirates, although the Bucs designated him for task shortly thereafter and finally launched him.
These main league numbers aren’t particularly spectacular, however the Jays are possible interested in his minor league work, the place he has proven large strikeout capability but additionally vital management points. He has thrown 89 innings on the farm over the previous three years with a 3.54 ERA, giving out walks to 12.7% of opponents but additionally punching them out at an enormous 33.7% fee. The Jays had been seemingly intrigued sufficient by these numbers to provide Walker a 40-man roster spot.
Remaking the bullpen is an ongoing mission for the Jays after the group allow them to down in 2024. Toronto relievers had a collective 4.82 ERA this yr, with solely the Rockies posting a worse quantity in that class. Because the season ended, Génesis Cabrera and Jordan Romano had been each reduce from the roster and each have signed with different golf equipment already. The Jays re-signed Yimi García, who that they had traded to the Mariners final yr, and in addition acquired Nick Sandlin within the Andrés Giménez commerce.
Previous to this deal, the one lefty relievers on the roster had been Brendon Little, Brandon Eisert and Easton Lucas. It’s a really inexperienced group, as none of these southpaws has even thrown 50 massive league innings but. Walker provides one other lefty into that competitors and he nonetheless has an choice yr remaining, as do the opposite three, so they could take turns shifting between the massive leagues and Triple-A all year long. Walker nonetheless has lower than a yr of service time, so he may be cheaply retained for a few years to come back if he continues to hold onto his roster spot.
Danner, 26, he was drafted as a catcher however struck out lots within the decrease ranges of the minors and bought moved to the mound. In 2021, he tossed 35 2/3 innings at Excessive-A with a 2.02 ERA, 29.4% strikeout fee and eight.4% stroll fee. That was his first skilled season as a pitcher, however he was already Rule 5 eligible because of the years he spent behind the plate. The Jays gave him a 40-man roster spot after that season to stop him from being plucked away.
He has hit a number of velocity bumps since then. He spent most of 2022 on the injured record and solely made 4 minor league appearances. In 2023, he was wholesome sufficient to throw 28 1/3 Triple-A innings with a 3.81 ERA. His 31.5% strikeout fee and 6.3% stroll fee had been fairly good, however he allowed eight house runs. He additionally made his main league debut that yr however solely tossed one third of an inning earlier than touchdown on the injured record because of an indirect pressure. In 2024, he logged 34 1/3 innings on the Triple-A degree with a 3.15 ERA, 23.3% strikeout fee and eight.9% stroll fee.
General, the outcomes haven’t been unhealthy, however he hasn’t been in a position to pitch a lot because of the time spent catching and the well being points. He has simply 114 1/3 skilled innings on his ledger to date and he has only one choice yr remaining.
DFA limbo usually lasts every week, however current years have seen that clock paused over the interval from Christmas to New Yr’s. On this date final yr, Ryan Jensen was designated for task by the Marlins and he wasn’t claimed off waivers by the Twins till Jan. 4, over two weeks later. That can give the Jays a while to see if there’s any commerce curiosity in Danner.
