The Blue Jays announced that they have signed right-hander David Aardsma to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Aardsma, a client of TWC Sports, will look to force his way into a bullpen that is anchored by Drew Storen, Roberto Osuna and Brett Cecil. The bullpen should also feature two of Aaron Sanchez, Jesse Chavez and Drew Hutchison — each of whom also figures to get a look in the rotation as well. Other candidates include left-hander Aaron Loup and right-handers Bo Schultz and Ryan Tepera.
Last season, Aardsma began the year with the Dodgers but opted out of his contract after a strong showing in Triple-A didn’t yield a promotion to the Majors. The 34-year-old veteran quickly hooked on with the Braves on a minor league deal and saw his contract selected within days of signing. He wound up tossing 30 2/3 innings of relief as a member of the Atlanta bullpen, posting a 4.70 ERA with 10.3 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 and a 29.5 percent ground-ball rate. Aardsma, who saved 69 games for the Mariners back in 2009-10, has never had a problem missing bats, even as his velocity has dipped down from its mid-90s peak in his late 20s. He has a 4.27 ERA with a 340-to-183 K/BB ratio in 337 innings at the Major League level, although Tommy John surgery and a torn labrum in his left hip in 2011-12 have slowed his career.
If you’re interested in learning more about Aardsma’s background, career path, and approach to the game, be sure to check out his appearance on the MLBTR Podcast last fall.
Can’t hurt. Minor league deal is no risk, all reward to me. If he flops, see ya later. If he blows up somehow, great for us.
I always thought it was so cool that Henry Aaron was the first name listed alphabetically of all the players that ever appeared in the major leagues. Then this guy came along.
I was just going to post something about that…
Sometimes the spring training invitees can be fun to watch, that said this guy is a bum
It’s about time Jays fans recognize that Shapiro and Atkins know what they’re doing. Ceciliani, Floyd and Aardsma are all great depth moves.
There is no risk with any of them, and potentially great upside. The pitchers in particular both show signs that they’ll be able to contribute effectively again — maybe not at their previous peak but certainly nothing embarrassing.
The team is in good hands. AA is long gone, so savour the memories but move on.
Blue Jays are going to be a good team this year if the team can stay somewhat healthy.
With all due respect to the author..if you think Drew Hutchison is ahead on the bullpen depth chart of Loup, Chavez or Tepera, you probably don’t know a whole lot about the team.
Hutchison will either make the rotation by some miracle, or he’ll make Buffalo’s rotation. There is no way he is in the big league bullpen this year. Even Chavez is more likely to be in the Bisons rotation than the major league bullpen.
Aardsma is a solid option to take the role Hawkins had late last season – low leverage guy with late inning experience, that shouldn’t be relied upon in risky spots unless he proves otherwise.
All due respect to you, but:
1) I don’t think Steve was suggesting anything about where Hutchison is on the pen depth chart, or really whether he would be at all, so much as saying he’s a rotation option and at least a theoretical pen piece as well;
2) worth noting that Hutchison was hit very, very hard last year the third time he faced opposing lineups;
3) he was shifted to the pen late last year and they said at the time they were going to use him in 1-inning situations rather than as a long man (not that he ended up seeing much action, and it obviously didn’t go well);
4) we haven’t yet seen how Shapiro/Atkins are going to run things or how they feel about Hutchison;
5) FWIW, Chavez is out of options (and will be earning $3.6MM/$4MM this year, anyway) and is going to be on the MLB roster in some capacity. I don’t think that’s in doubt at all; maybe you meant Sanchez?
Now look, you are probably right, in my view, that Hutchison is more likely to get some work at Triple-A as a starter — at least out of camp — than he is to end up in the pen. But there are a lot of variables here, and I don’t think Steve was arguing nearly as much as you are charging him with. In fact, my guess is he’d agree with you as well.
So you guys would rather have him than Tyler Clippard? I don’t get it