The Blue Jays have claimed Cesar Valdez off waivers from the Athletics, the clubs announced. He’ll open his tenure at Triple-A Buffalo on optional assignment. Toronto has designated righty Mat Latos to clear a 40-man spot.
Valdez, 32, made it back to the big leagues with the A’s after a long layoff. While he was hit hard in 9 1/3 frames — his first since way back in 2010 — the veteran evidently showed enough to catch Toronto’s eye. Valdez did make an interesting showing last year at Triple-A with the Astros, spinning 180 innings of 3.25 ERA ball with 7.0 K/9 against just 1.0 BB/9.
He’ll take over the 40-man spot that had been held by Latos, who was also occupying a spot in the MLB rotation. With Neil Ramirez heading onto the active roster after he, too, was claimed, there was a need to open space there as well.
Latos, who’s still just 29 years of age, made three starts for the Jays. But he lasted only 15 innings and gave up 11 earned runs on 19 hits — five of them homers — while compiling ten strikeouts against eight walks. On the positive side, Latos was sitting at 91.9 mph with his fastball, up a tick from last year, and had produced an 11.0% whiff rate in the short sample.
We all knew Latos was done with the Jays, in fact we knew it in spring training just after he was signed in the off season, so this news is not a surprise. I want to say something positive but replacing Latos with Cesar Valdez is not a competative move. It is one lousy piece for another. Meh. There must be a pitcher in this organization somewhere that can be called up that will be better than waiver claims..
Like who? If the jays felt that way they would have called someone else up instead of claiming Valdez but realistically we’re into our 7-10 starters now and we didn’t have a 6th before this season even started. Any decent talented young pitchers are not ready, we’d be looking at Olberholtzer or House at some point but it’s probably not a huge difference between any of them, they’ll all be inconsistent.
Shapiro said although there’s a few interesting stories taking shape in the minors, none of them are ready to make an impact on the big club yet.
They’ll be somebody posting how they feel this guy could help their team,happens every time someone’s cut.
Usually a Braves fan.
Well obviously, “he is a low risk high reward acquisition that they can flip for a couple of prospects at the trade deadline”.
He’s a no risk no reward acquisition that should try his luck in Korea or somewhere NOT in the MLB.
Lmao always love that comment about a guy who was DFA
Yup He Should, Latos Should Go Pitch Overseas or Independent League, Then Try a Comeback At The MLB Level, Just Look at What It Did To Vogelsong, Colby Lewis, Kazmir, and Rich Hill
I feel this guy could help my team
Can’t be much worse than Jered Weaver
High praise.
He can and he is worse than Weaver
The same Jered Weaver who is on pace to allow 65 homers and averages 84 mph on his fastball? Nah. Latos is better, but it’s damning with faint praise.
He’s a great batting practice pitcher. If there were do overs he would be great during the game
No he’s not and Preller can make trades with whoever he wants.
Arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
I feel my hometown Padres should take a flyer on him again, the first time worked out great. Darren Balsey is a master pitching coach and if he can’t fix him no one can. Why not?
Don Cooper, pitching coach of the White Sox couldn’t “fix” him last year and frankly he’s the best in baseball.
That will absolutely not happen
I know maturity was a big issue but he really is a good guy. I’d like to see him back in Padres blue, we have nothing to lose and can possibly gain a solid #3-4 pitcher for years to come.
And you know he’s a good guy because? He’s been released by multiple organizations in short period of time and no one had anything good to say about him.
He follows him on social media.
I’d say most of the releases have been because he sucks. But yeah, haven’t heard much support for him.
I didn’t know you played in MLB with him. What position you play bro?
you mean a 3-4 pitcher on their AA team, right?
Keep dreaming. This isn’t the Latos you had before and hasn’t been in years (besides a decent stretch with Chicago last year early).
3-4 starter for years to come? Dude come on he hasn’t been a 7th starter in 3-4 years
He is a terrible person. He tried to pressure a friend of mine to sleep with him, and she knew his wife. I saw all the texts he sent her after she denied him, they were next level trashy. The dude is a freaking psycho dirtbag
I think the last thing the Padres need in a clubhouse full of young up-and-comers is a guy like Latos hanging around and causing headaches for everyone.
What do you mean “A guy like Latos?”
I like the Korea idea, maybe his name gets him a job
I hope that White Sox fans enjoy a great career for Moncada as the Red Sox wince when Mr Personality (Sale) languishes. He was an absolute idiot reigniting the Machado controversy with throwing behind his bed and showed he was classless (in the style of Josh Beckett) with his comments.
As the season wears on in the AL East he will be relegated to batting practice quality starts as things go around and come around for dopes like this.
Trader Dave will be exposed once again…trading real talent for inflated, overpaid veterans.
You really need to work on your troll game.
Just throwing darts at a board. I’m actually surprised that the Jays haven’t signed Doug Fister. While Fister isn’t a top pitcher, he’s better than the options the Jays have been rolling out there..