The Blue Jays announced that right-hander Mat Latos has cleared outright waivers. The veteran righty could have elected free agency following his outright but will instead report to the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo tonight, per the Jays.
Latos, still just 29 years of age, made three starts for the Jays after having his contract selected from Buffalo last month. Though he turned in one scoreless six-inning performance, his aggregate work in Toronto left plenty to be desired; Latos ultimately yielded 11 earned runs on 19 hits and eight walks with 10 strikeouts before being designated for assignment last week when the club claimed right-hander Cesar Valdez from the A’s.
Once one of the game’s more reliable young starters, Latos hasn’t turned in an effective season since a 2014 campaign that was shortened by knee surgery. Since that time, Latos has struggled to a 5.05 earned run average in 201 1/3 innings between the Marlins, Dodgers, Angels, White Sox, Nationals and Blue Jays.
Given the injuries the Blue Jays have experienced in their rotation this season, it’s feasible that Latos could once again be called upon as a depth option — especially if the Jays aren’t able to turn things around and elect to sell off some more marketable veteran assets at the trade deadline this summer (e.g. Francisco Liriano, Marco Estrada). The Jays are currently 11-20 and sit 10 games out of the division lead in the American League East.
Mat, take off that Halloween mask.. Is that Edwin Jackson underneath there. Team number 8 and only 29? He will for sure get to at least a dozen.
To time for the next team. Mets are number 9 and Sandy admitted that they are excited because his contract “is so damn cheap”.
No other team claimed Latos, what a surprise. I hope he can work it out in AAA. Rumor has it, he had an personal encounter with Gibby about being left in during a blowout. Granted players don’t need to be members of a church choir, but that this guy’s character is suspect, as evidenced with this latest rumor and his public blasting past teammates and clubs. Biagini looked great in his first outing, but it was the Rays he was pitching against, not the Yankees. Let’s see how Biagini does against good hitting clubs and how he does 2 and 3rd time through the order. Is he a 3-4 inning guy or a 5-6 inning guy or better?
Suspect? I would say evident, several years ago
I didn’t know you played for the same team as him. What position you play bro?
There has been nothing said about gibby and Latos. Nothing at all
Actually in a post game press conference the other day, one of the reporters asked gibby about the encounter and gibby downplayed it, then sarcastically called himself “honest John” at which point many in the room laughed. Latos is better in AAA.
He’s better in AAA because he hasn’t pitched well in like 3 years. Nothing less, nothing more.
You are most definitely right and the other guy is off base!
Maybe Latos just wanted to ask him if he liked Huey Lewis and the News
Saw him pitch against the Yankees this year. Remembered his ‘stuff’ and hot start with the chisox last year… what surprised me was that he has pretty good velocity–better than last year. Was cutting and sinking the ball at 92-93 on the YES gun. Seems like plenty to go with all his breaking stuff and change. Last year he was not in the 90s and was throwing lots of offspeed. Anyway, he gave up a bunch of homeruns but I thought he looked physically capable of being a consistent starter.