The Blue Jays announced Thursday that they’ve designated right-hander Javy Guerra for assignment in order to open a spot on the active roster for righty Ryan Tepera, who has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list.
Guerra, 33, appeared in 10 games for Toronto early in the season but was tagged for six runs on nine hits, four walks and a hit batter. He did manage 12 strikeouts in his brief stint with the Jays, although a well-below-average 6.7 percent swinging-strike rate and 25.7 percent opponents’ chase rate suggest he wouldn’t be likely to maintain that strikeout rate. In 223 1/3 innings at the MLB level dating back to 2011, Guerra has a 3.51 ERA with 7.4 K/9 against 4.0 BB/9 and a 44.5 percent ground-ball rate, but he hasn’t had much success at the MLB level since 2014.
The well-traveled Guerra is hardly a stranger to the DFA process; this is the sixth time in his career he’s been designated for assignment. The Jays will have a week to trade him or run him through outright waivers, with the latter of those two outcomes seeming the more likely route. If Guerra clears, he’d be able to reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency.
In Tepera, the Blue Jays will be getting one of their top late-inning arms back after a three-week absence due to what looks to have been a minor elbow injury. Dating back to the 2016 season, Tepera has turned in 160 2/3 frames of 3.53 ERA ball with 9.4 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9. He’s earning $1.525MM as a first-time arbitration player in 2019. Assuming Tepera can demonstrate that he’s fully healthy over the next couple of months, he’ll likely be an oft-asked-about trade candidate for a rebuilding Jays club this summer.
Not certain he’s ready to go. This is strictly a business decision.
Guerra isn’t too bad a pitcher… he should find a home on a major league roster. Almost 11 K’s per 9 innings. He’s had some success with Dodgers, White Sox and Marlins. Someone will pick him up.
Braves
What are you talking about? This is his last opportunity, you either don’t know what your talking about, or did not read the article. I’m sure both. You my friend, have been Donged
T-E-P-E-R-A that’s an odd way of spelling “Guerrero”.
Javy had a few good outings, but someone had to go. Tepera is a great trade chip if healthy
Watching the game today vs the Twins, I have to give Kudos to the Jays mgmt for Sogard and Galvis decisions. Now if they had signed a Corbin type and a Nelson Cruz type in addition to Galvis and Sogard the Jays could be rolling a little better….
Who?
I remember getting his card in the 2012 topps set and thinking he was some rising star. Before Jansen he was their closer for a year.
Kinda surprised considering how hard they were leaning on him. Personally, I’d have optioned Thornton and gone with 4 starters for a couple weeks (off days).
Then again…. DFA does open up a 40 man spot. If only the Jays had an MLB-ready uber prospect to take it…….
And that my friend is why you are eating peanut butter and jelly for dinner and not running a baseball team
“Auuuutomobile???”
Lake, Big lake
Let the Tepera showcase begin!