The Blue Jays have acquired right-hander Jason Adam from the Royals for cash considerations, Scott Mitchell of TSN reports. Additionally, the Blue Jays announced notable injury news regarding second baseman Devon Travis and right-hander Mark Leiter Jr., Shi Davidi of Sportsnet tweets. Travis underwent arthroscopic surgery “to address a small meniscus tear in his left knee” and will be reassessed in four to six weeks, while Leiter will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Adam, a Kansas native, is leaving the Royals via trade for the second time since they selected him in the fifth round of the 2010 draft. They previously dealt Adam to the Twins in 2014 for slugger Josh Willingham, only to bring him back on a minor league contract in 2017 following a stint with the Padres. After overcoming multiple serious injuries to his arm, as ESPN’s Keith Law explained last May, Adam made his major league debut in 2018 and recorded a subpar 6.12 ERA/6.16 FIP over 32 1/3 innings and 31 appearances. At the same time, though, the 27-year-old did manage playable strikeout and walk numbers (10.3 K/9, 4.18 BB/9).
As is the case with Adam, injuries have been a major problem during Travis’ pro career. Left knee inflammation sidelined the 28-year-old for a couple weeks before he underwent surgery, making it the latest lower body issue for a player who hasn’t appeared in more than 103 games in a major league season since debuting in 2015. Notably, Travis totaled just 50 appearances in 2017 on account of right knee surgery. He didn’t perform well last year in a 378-plate appearance return, over which he hit just .232/.275/.381 (77 wRC+). As a result, the Jays weren’t guaranteeing a starting job to Travis entering camp. It’s a moot point now, though, as Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Freddy Galvis and Richard Urena appear likely to open the season as the Jays’ top middle infield options.
Leiter, 28, joined Toronto last September via waivers from the Phillies, but the Blue Jays ended up designating him for assignment and then outrighting him over the winter. While Leiter garnered extensive experience with the Phillies in 2017, when he amassed 90 2/3 innings and put up a 4.96 ERA/5.14 FIP, a flexor strain helped limit him to just 51 2/3 frames between the majors and minors last year. In 23 1/3 innings divided between Philly and Toronto, he only managed a 7.71 ERA/6.98 FIP.
Maybe the jays need to move on from Devon. Hard for him to stay on the field.
if he could stay on the field enough to have trade value maybe.
Becoming laughable. Definitely time for someone else
Laughable???
Like hahaha Devon Travis is hurt again.
And they took away downvoting…
No man, I’m still here Bay-bay!
laugh·a·ble
/ˈlafəb(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: laughable
so ludicrous as to be amusing.
“if it didn’t make me so angry it would be laughable”
synonyms: ridiculous, ludicrous, absurd, risible, preposterous, irrational, worthy of scorn, derisory; More
foolish, silly, idiotic, daft, stupid, nonsensical, senseless, asinine, fatuous, crazy, insane, harebrained, scatterbrained, outrageous;
informalcock-eyed
“the idea that nuclear weapons deter anyone is laughable”
amusing, funny, humorous, hilarious, uproarious, comical, comic, entertaining, diverting, farcical, droll, sidesplitting;
informalrib-tickling, jokey, killing, priceless;
rarejocose
“if it wasn’t so tragic, it’d be laughable”
antonyms: serious
It’s not like they’re in a pressing need to get a starting 2B for a championship run though. Dude has little trade value too, they might as well give him the chance to bounce back and either get some value or let the infield sort itself out between him, Bo and Urena in the coming two years. I honestly like the guy and feel for him, can’t catch a break. If they can get something for him though I sadly don’t think there’s a reason to hang on
They’ve been giving him the chance for 4 years. Next chance will be his last if he even gets one. I like the guy too. I think he is as good as DFA at this point though.
They cut Tulo with 38M left, but Devon is still on the roster? Time to move on from Mr Glass.
They aren’t really comparable imo. Tulo might not even have a future in this league, much less on this team. If Travis can ever just stay healthy, we know he can be an impact bat. Even though it’s becoming more and more unlikely that that happens, I don’t think it would be the right move yet. He has at least half of this season to show something before he’s really at risk of losing his spot to the kids.
The description you gave of Travis is a perfect description of Tulo.
Except for the part of “an impact bat”. The only time he had an impact bat was in the thin air of Colorado. I just hope he can hang with the Yanks until they come to Toronto so he gets what he deserves from the Jays faithful. He of the spring training WALK bat flip!
Yankee fans think Tulo is an all star.
Gotta feel for Travis, one of the good guys for sure in baseball
It wasn’t long ago when critics of Dave Dombrowski were using Devon Travis as an example how DD plunders his own minor league organizations for quality veteran players. Travis can’t stay healthy… then and now.
okay, but still by no means a good trade. I’d still to this day take Travis over Gose.
When you consider what Travis, Pillar, Stroman and Sanchez (among others) have shown at their best, Blue Jays have a lot of unrealized potential.
Not seeing Travis ever getting there …with the fragility interruptions
I guess Buffalo is hurting for bullpen arms.
Come May, if Bo Bichette is tearing up AAA the way he’s doing it in Spring, he should be called up. Then the Blue Jays can declare, along with Vlad Jr, that the youth movement has begun. Yes, I understand team control tactics. I also believe young players need time in the majors to take that next step. This all hinges on Bo’s AAA performance, ofcourse.
Will the Jays brass do it? Probably not.
As for Travis, I suggested non-tendering him and got a laugh out of many Jays fans on this site. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to call Travis up to the majors when he’s healthy.
As we heard in these pages years ago, Travis needs to be on grass 100% of the time. He will eventually be an okay DH somewhere. Definitely too fragile to play in the field.
Why bother about mark Leiter Jr? Maybe with a new arm sewn on he could be a MLB level pitcher. Otherwise send him back to the minors forever.
As for Jason Adam, the Jays Mgmt is dumpster diving again. More lightning in a bottle stuff. AAA depth.
I find your posts of some interest jimmer. But that interest is diminished more and more by your constant claims of “as I wrote in these pages” or “as I’ve said numerous times”. I don’t doubt that you’ve said it before, but constantly writing it again and again is really wearing thin
Thanks for the comment Dam. Really. I here ya.
I don’t do that for you and the good people blogging here I do that just to push the buttons of a couple of haters who don’t have a clue.
Signs of spring
1. Groundhog’s lack of shadow
2. First robin
3. Knee surgery for Devon Travis
Adam’s now vacant roster spot seems like it might be finally filled by Kyle Zimmer who has been to hell & back & is most deserving with all the hard work invested…
Wait, an injury? That doesn’t sound like the Devon Travis that I know…
Feel bad for Travis. He always seems like a good guy and it has to be frustrating to have that potential and not be able to get there.
For the schmucks loling at the guy getting injured, grow up.
Besides, he still turned in more games in the majors than Gose.
Devon Travis needs to retire.
Retire and look back on a great career……oh…wait. I think he missed that part.
Much as I loved him at second years ago, I don’t think he’ll ever get healthy enough be a viable option anymore. I’ve been hopeful he’d be able to get healthy and hot long enough to increase his trade value…don’t think that’ll ever happen
Lost in all the Devon Travis injury news is that apparently the Jays have Mark Leiter Jr. Is their entire minor league system made of the sons of former major leaguers?!?
Do not know what Russ Adkins was thinking giving Travis a 3 million dollar contract. Travis has a great attitude and has been a useful contributor so we all feel bad for him.