The Blue Jays announced that they’ve claimed infielder Ty Kelly off waivers from the Mets. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Jays transferred injured Rule 5 pick Glenn Sparkman from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL.
Kelly, 28, made his MLB debut with New York last year and batted .241/.352/.345 in 71 plate appearances. A former 13th-round pick by the Orioles (2009), Kelly has spent most of his minor league career playing second base and third base, though he does have more than 1000 innings of experience in left field as well. The switch-hitter has a lifetime .275/.382/.383 batting line in 397 games and 1586 plate appearances at the Triple-A level.
The minor league veteran will serve as a depth option for the Blue Jays, who needn’t carry him on the Major League roster immediately, as he does have a minor league option remaining. Toronto second baseman Devon Travis has a history of injuries, and third baseman Josh Donaldson left Sunday’s game with a minor hamstring issue, though he’s already expressed confidence that he’ll be able to play in tomorrow’s game. Kelly nonetheless gives the Jays a bit of insurance against any significant injury around the infield and potentially in the corner outfield as well.
As for Sparkman, the 24-year-old suffered a broken thumb back in Spring Training during pitchers’ fielding practice and seemingly won’t be ready to get back on the mound before the onset of summer.
Good claim, more depth. I still want the Jays to trade for a #1 starter and elite setup man. Yeeesh.
who are they going to trade to get those two things? and I believe Aaron Sanchez fits that #1 starter role pretty well.
I agree Arron Sanchez is very good but he isn’t a #1 yet. As far as trading goes, the Jays have many good prospects that oher teams covet, time to empty the farm system again if they wanna win now. Otherwise it is a 3rd place finish.
Like who? There really isn’t much more then ‘okay’ or ‘decent’ prospects. No elite, no great prospects.
I thin Jays fans should right this year off (you can look back I have said that for months, under .500), dump Gibby and not replace him with Wedge. Maybe move some other front office pieces out as well.
Guerrero was either law’s or mayo’s early prediction for top prospect in baseball next year. I’ll agree that if donaldsons injury is serious this season could be a serious problem but that’s the same for any team who loses their best player. You can’t write them off yet based on performance when there hasn’t been a weeks worth of games. And firing gibby is just dumb
The season is over aleady as far as I am concerned and that is not looking at injuries or recent performance; it is looking at the big picture. They simply don’t have the starting ptiching elite depth moving forward. Last year is done, forget about it, this is a new year. And they don’t have a quality reliefs crops either. Forget Howell, bad signing, Joe Smith is borderline. And Grilli to close is silly. Loup might be back but to what level? No this is a 3rd place team out of the gate and barring big imporvements, I think the Jays are 10 games out and sellers at the trade deadline unless they go all-in now. Having just listened to a podcast with Zwelling & Nicholson_smith and Shapiro, I suggest that trading the farm won’t be an option and this team won’t finish in the playoffs for the first time in 3 years. I’m pissed.
“The season is over al[r]eady as far as I am concerned…”
3.7 percent of the season is in the books and you’re quitting? Talk about SSS.
Does that mean no more daily complaints about your “favorite team”?
Darn….
Well, there’s always the Argonauts and the Maple Leafs for ya, eh?
My rants are not compliants, they are the solution to winning this year. An elite starting pitcher and an elite setup guy or setup guy[s]. Otherwise, 3rd place. sigh. I find it hard to cheer for false hopes,like the many who think the Jays have a chance.
You won’t be missed then if that’s how it is. You take pessimism to a whole new level.
Omg just let the prospects pan and the team will reset in the coming years. In the meantime there is still 154 games left, plenty of time for them to start winning. Most of these guys will turn it around. Yeesh
Agreed that’s crazy. Guys a troll
^jimmertree
haha the seasons over as far as you’re concerned? please tell me you’re joking? so there’s no way this team could finish with a wild card spot? you must be the life of the party with that unwavering optimism
Stroman has #1 potential
Uh, the Jays have the best rotation in the league, why would they waste prospects on a starter?
They could use another reliever, sure (who couldn’t?), but they have a MUCH bigger need on the other side of the game.
A strong left fielder. Put Pearce at 1st and stop playing Smoak.
If that’s true and they are tanking heading into July, then that is an opportunity to trade Estrada, Liriano, Happ and many others and greatly excellerate a restocking of the minors and bring up players like Tellez and Alford and Pompey and others to re-energize the team moving forward. They have highly desirable pieces and could take the same approach that the White Sox did and sell certain pieces for good to great prospects. That being said, I hope the team rebounds from and awful start. They do look old out there though.
Donaldson has a calf injury, not a hamstring injury, does he not?
Cya Doug or whatever his name was. Already forgot.