The Blue Jays announced several roster moves on Friday, including the activation of reliever Ken Giles from the 45-day injured list. They also promoted catcher Alejandro Kirk, designated outfielder Billy McKinney and backstop Caleb Joseph, recalled righty Jacob Waguespack and optioned righty Sean Reid-Foley.
Giles made just two appearances this year (on July 24 and 26) before landing on the IL with a right forearm strain. It’s the second consecutive season limited by arm injuries for Giles, but when he’s right, he’s dominant. The 29-year-old was among the league’s best relievers last season, when he threw 53 innings and registered a 1.87 ERA/2.27 FIP with 14.09 K/9, 2.89 BB/9 and 23 saves in 24 chances. Giles’ production didn’t help lead to contention for the Jays then, but they’re 24-19 this season and in possession of a playoff spot. Therefore, if Giles is able to revisit his 2019 form, he could be an enormous down-the-stretch addition for Toronto.
Kirk, 21, has done nothing but hit in the minors over the past couple years. Even though he only reached the High-A level before this promotion, Kirk should be in line to at least back up Danny Jansen right now. He ranks as one of the top Blue Jays prospects at Baseball America (No. 5), MLB.com (No. 6) and FanGraphs (No. 6), with BA writing that Kirk “has an innate ability to barrel baseballs consistently, along with a good sense of the strike zone.”
Kirk will take over for Joseph, a former Oriole whom the Blue Jays signed to a minors pact in the offseason. Toronto selected Joseph back on Sept. 5, but it’s now booting the light-hitting 34-year-old from its roster after less than a week.
McKinney, along with the recently outrighted Brandon Drury, was part of the Blue Jays’ return for left-hander J.A. Happ in a deal they made with the Yankees in 2018. McKinney was effective after the Jays picked him up, as he hit .252/.320/.470 with six home runs in 118 plate appearances, but he didn’t come close to that production last year and hasn’t been part of Toronto’s plans this season. The 26-year-old totaled just three PA in 2020 before the Jays designated him.
Wagyu Jake??
Was hoping Kirk would be called up especially when they optioned Hands McGuire. Let’s see what this kid can bring to the playoff push!
Greasy Reesey. The Master of his domain,
Crazy how highly Billy McKinney was thought of in MLB circles based on how many prominent trades he has been a key piece is in. Hopefully those days are finally over.
Keep in mind being involved in trades also means your current team believes you are expendable. There is a reason why teams were willing to give him up.
Nebraska, More involved in trades than someone is expendable, or did Boston feel that Betts was expendable?
Yes they did. That’s why they traded him. If you are more valuable in a trade to another team than you are staying on that team, then you are by definition expendable.
We weren’t resigning Betts. He made that clear. I’m happy to see him in Dodger blue than Yankee pin stripes.
You’re right but still weird that he was involved in 2 or 3 huge deals. It definitely means that teams thought he was expendable but that he was consistently a part of significant deals means he also must be highly valued and sought out.
Nice to see Kirk get a promotion but also a little surprised. This also says a lot about how much the organization thinks of Riley Adams.
Hope Kirk plays well. Last I saw him he made Pablo look fit.
Adams stock has been falling for years. This has nothing to do with him and everything to do with Kirk.
Actually it has something to do with the fact that a AAA catcher was passed over by the single-A catcher. It is a mix of both. Do not kid yourself, the organization is not high on Adams, otherwise he’d be up and not Kirk.
It’s unlikely Adams gets claimed, but he is going to be type 5 eligible this winter and Kirk wasn’t going to be. I think Moreno is also in need of protection, but he will probably be added to the roster.
Just takes away one 40 man spot prematurely, but he would’ve been added eventually. And i guess if he can contribute, who cares?
Yes, exactly. My point was strictly from the perspective, or perception, of Adams. Blue Jays have been wrong before. Example: Jordan Romano.
In Kirk’s case, he’s ripped minor league pitching at every level. He’s a big boy, and that’s the one concern of him. Ready or not, he has earned the right to come up due to other catchers’ inability to perform. Kirk has.
I think he is added to the taxi squad because they have no one else to go there now that Joseph was DFAed not sent down.
According to Baseball Reference, he’s 6’1” and 205 lbs, while Pablo is 5’10” and 268.
My comment was to wild bill tetley, who said that Kirk made Pablo look for the last time he saw him.
265
@norah .. what?? Pablo is 5’10 268 and A.Kirk is 5’8 265. Same size my man. Of course that’s just what is listed though. I’m sure both of them are heavier. But Kirk isn’t close to 6’1 and probably hasn’t been 205 since he was 16.
Norah – you are way off. Try taking a second search. Thanks for playing.
Alejandro Kirk is obviously Sloth. Chunk taught him how to catch using baby ruths as motivation
Underrated comment.
But McKinney was hitting .667! :)
Hmmm…Not sure this is the best moves but time will tell. The problem I see here is Kirk not being experienced with major league pitchers. I think Joseph’s ability to be that calming influence and leadership he brought behind the plate, that Jansen and McGuire lacked, will be greatly missed.. I think sending down Fisher or DFAing him, allowing them to carry 3 catchers would have made more sense especially with all the moving parts the Jays have.
Joseph will be on the taxi squad as teams are required to carry 3 catchers, bringing Kirk up is all about the bat
Jaysfan he was DFAed so he is on waivers right now and can not be on the squad. Once he clears waivers and if he is not released they can add him IF he decides to stay in the organization.
Agreed. Better to carry 3 catchers with Joseph than some of the extra baggage they have up there now.
Yes, I wanted the Jays to roll 3 catchers when Reese was still on the major league roster.
IMHO Kirk will catch in a double header or a day game after a night game, otherwise he will probably DH to relace Tellez’s bat!
He probably won’t get a single start at DH this year. Partly because a class A 21 year old isn’t going to be the best bat option and partly because teams carrying 2 catchers don’t like to DH one of them for paranoid of fear of having to lose the DH when the catcher gets hurt.
No way the brought up Kirk solely as a back up to Danny. He was brought up , put on the 40 for his bat. He will DH at times.
The hard thing for Kirk will be handling a Pitching staff. That’s the difficult thing for young catchers. I’m sure his bat is MLB ready.
He is the backup. He’s handling 1 starter and a bunch of bullpen arms. It wasn’t hard for Kirk, or any catcher, to do so in the minors. Stop with the lame excuses. Handling staff won’t be his problem; it will be whether or not his glove, footwork, blocking ability and quick hands are good enough on D.
Handling pitchers….cry me a Three River….
Billy McKinney is probably going to the Giants. A former A’s prospect- too enticing for them to pass up.
My guess is they believe the bats better then jansens, as do i. Now they get a few games the see how he plays before the post season, if the bat plays better and he plays ok in the field i bet he starts in the post season. Honestly 1st and DH may be an option as well. Aslo wonder if Vlad plays any 3rd when Tellez comes back to have all the bats in the lineup.