The Blue Jays have agreed to a minor league deal with reliever Joba Chamberlain, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports on Twitter. The 29-year-old was released recently by the Tigers.
Chamberlain owns a 4.09 ERA in 22 innings on the year, but there were some suggestions that he may have been a bit unlucky in Detroit. Opposing hitters own a .360 BABIP against him, as well as a 21.7% HR/FB rate. While solid contact could explain those marks, Chamberlain’s fastball velocity is in line with his career numbers and he’s struck out 6.1 batters per nine while walked just 2.0.
Toronto has long been looking for ways to bolster its bullpen, and will at the very least pick up some depth in Chamberlain. It’s far from clear that the signing will keep the team out of the market for relief arms, but perhaps it reduces the need for the club to deal for a serviceable veteran in addition to whatever else it might get done.
Please, please, please don’t let this be code for “we called everyone, every day, but the prices weren’t to our liking.” Because that song is getting really old.
I don’t think that’s what it is at all…looks like just a depth signing. Possibly because they will be trading some of their minor league pitching prospects to obtain a good starter.
I hope you’re right. Picking up a castoff from a team with even bigger bullpen issues than the Jays’ doesn’t seem like much of an add, though, even from a depth perspective.
It’s the AA specialty, trying to reclaim the former potential of players like this. Joba was a 1st round pick, #41 overall or something and only fell that far because of signability issues if I remember correctly. It’s a low risk signing, with potentially high rewards if he can re-discover himself in Toronto. Have patience, see what AA has up his sleeve. His knows his pitching staff needs to be better, and I have faith in him that he will do whatever is best for the team.
Digging deep for help I see. The Yankee fan at me is smirking , but for Toronto’s sake, I hope this isn’t where they stop.
I know the Jays need seriously help in the bullpen, but this is the same guy that got released by the Tigers….a team with even bigger bullpen problems then the Jays have! Maybe going back to the AL East will help him out.
He has a straight fastball, and falls in love with his swirling change. I’m surprised his babip is only .360. Gotta expect this move from the team that tried Phil Coke, who had a similar problem.
Minor league deals for the league minimum can’t hurt.