The Blue Jays have claimed outfielder Junior Lake off waivers from the Orioles, Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com reports on Twitter. Baltimore had recently designated Lake for assignment.
Lake did not play much in the majors last year, spending most of the season at Triple-A. In 355 plate appearances there, he put up a strong .298/.397/.431 slash. But Leake hasn’t quite produced at that level in the majors. Over the last three years, he’s managed a .237/.278/.377 slash in 664 trips to the plate.
It’s not clear yet what Toronto’s intentions are with Lake, but he offers some flexibility for a team that could consider dealing from its outfield depth. As things stand, Ben Revere, Kevin Pillar, Michael Saunders, and Dalton Pompey look like the top candidates to join Jose Bautista in the outfield, and it’s possible to imagine the club attempting to cash in one of those players to address another need (or free up resources to do so). Adding Lake certainly doesn’t force a move, but could help facilitate one.
Should say “join Jose Bautista and Kevin Pillar in the outfield” after Kevin’s amazing defensive and respectable offensive season last year I think he has a continuous shot at CF
Yup. Pillar is a stud. Cost controlled and dynamic, he should be manning centre at the dome for years. I really hope they don’t trade him. And his hitting is only going to get better.
He also has a lot of trade value and moving him clears a path for the higher-upside (at least with the bat) Dalton Pompey. Obviously, they would have to get something very good for Pillar to deal him, probably a good young starter which teams are loath to give up, but it’s worth looking at.
A typo says ‘Leake’, not ‘Lake’. Leake is a good hitting pitcher, but he’s an even worse hitter than Lake.
My guess?
Lake will get the obligatory DFA soon.
Before this signing, the Buffalo Bisons were short three outfielders. Lake is likely to end up there.
He’s out of options I believe, don’t see him being long with the Blue Jays.
Was an okay prospect.
Will probably never amount to anything than a fourth outfielder in the majors.
This is a good sign by the Jays. It will be probably depend on whether Saunders will be ready to play, but I can see the Jays making use of Lake’s versatility off the bench.. ( The Jays have already actualized the potential they had seen in two other players.).
Also, we can’t underestimate Jacoby’s positive influence on hitters under his tutelage.
I also like the Biagini steal, and wonder if he will stay with the team, but that is for another post.
And peace and happiness to everyone here during this holy season.