The Blue Jays announced Monday that they’ve selected the contract of left-hander Kirby Snead to the Major League roster and opened a spot by designating right-hander Jacob Barnes for assignment.
Snead, 26, was Toronto’s tenth-round pick back in 2016 and has steadily put together an impressive minor league track record. He reached Triple-A for the first time in 2019 and would’ve gotten another look there in 2020 were it not for the minor league season being shut down. He’s made the most of his second go-around there in 2021, however, pitching to a 2.01 ERA and 2.28 FIP with a huge 35.5 percent strikeout rate, a 9.9 percent walk rate and a 57.4 percent ground-ball rate in 31 1/3 frames.
Outside of one lone start earlier this year, when he worked two innings (presumably as an opener), Snead’s entire career has been spent working in relief. He’s a pure bullpen addition for the Jays — one who’s never had an ERA north of 3.88 at any level to this point in his career.
Barnes pitched nine innings for the Jays after coming over from the Mets and whiffed 30 percent of the 43 batters he faced, but he also walked six and hit another (16.3 percent). Now 31 years old, Barnes looked at one point like he might be a long-term piece in the Brewers’ bullpen. From 2016-18, he racked up 147 1/3 innings of 3.54 ERA ball with solid strikeout numbers, but he hasn’t been able to recreate that production. From 2019-21, Barnes has 78 1/3 big league innings split among five different teams, but he’s pitched to just a 6.55 ERA.
Barnes keeps getting chances with other clubs, likely owing to a combination of his fastball velocity, spin, chase rate and a strong minor league track record. There’s clearly some tantalizing aspects of his repertoire — you don’t see five teams take a chance on a 40-man roster spot for a player if there isn’t — but he hasn’t found consistency over the past few years. The Blue Jays will now have until Friday to trade Barnes, otherwise they’ll have to place him on outright waivers or release him.
This move is certainly a week too late, and most likely a month too late.
Hey everyone. I am starting a rare 20-team fantasy football league just for MLBTR commenters. I did one for the fantasy baseball season and it worked out great. I am making it really easy to make the playoffs so everyone stays involved. 16 of the 20 teams make the playoffs. Outside of the playoffs and the fact that it’s a 20-team league it is a totally standard ESPN league. It is also totally free and for bragging rights only. We are very active and there is a ton of polls and articles every week. Most of the spots have been filled so if you would like to play in our MLBTR commenters ONLY league please email me at bovinecrab@outlook.com It will be tons of fun. I promise it will be the best free league you have ever played with people you have never met. Only a few spots left so go ahead and email me if you want to join
BlueJays are shifting deck chairs on the titanic.
Like that they’re giving a young pitcher a chance who’s had really nice success at triple – A. Rather the youngsters then some of the guys we’ve been giving opportunities to.
True. Still wonder why they gave up on Tice the other month.
Considering how an unheralded guy like saucato (no clue how to actually spell it) has pitched pretty well might as well just start calling up minor league pitchers and see what sticks. Can’t be any worse then guys like Barnes, Dolis or chatwood
BigDaddy, good take and build for next year especially the pitching staff.
Yeah at this point that makes the most sense. Outside of Phelps before he got injured none of the veteran bullpen guys really did much to impress.
See what the kids have. If nothing else it will give opponents a different look at some young pitchers with limited scouting reports.
I like how they trade for two quality relievers and then don’t use them. Where was Richards and Cimber Sunday afternoon? Montoyo might be the problem
I hate blaming the manager, but the jays bullpen by the numbers is not as bad as one would think.
Much of it seems like the game gets away from them quickly and some of that should certainly fall on the manager for not trying new things, having arms ready in case someone doesn’t have their release point etc.
I mean Romano has only pitched 33 innings and there’s been a few times they’ve just given him garbage innings just to keep him fresh. There is almost certainly better ways to utilize your best arm in high leverage situations
I agree. Charlie has shown a knack for using up our high leverage guys in a blowout, then the next day when we really need them , they are “unavailable ” . Time for Charles to go.
Been saying that for a long time…he should have been fired after the 2019 season where he showed he is not a major league manager
Two top 100 prospects and a lottery ticket for Luis Castillo. Then resign Ray in offseason. Imho.
Hahaha no.way.
The asking price for Berrios is two top 100s. Castillo is better and controllable to 2024. It’s not emptying the farm and we won’t get great pitching by trying to outspend others this off-season. Time is now for this year and beyond.
I doubt Cincinnati makes him available. They want to compete next year and have an outside shot still this year.
But if he’s available… yes. Pearson, Kloffenstein, Riley Adams and a couple lotto tickets.
Snead’s Feed and Seed (Formerly Chuck’s)
Just curious, but does anybody think we should trade semien? The playoffs seem pretty much out of reach and with semien a free agent why not try to get some near MLB ready pitching.
The Jays have five games in hand with Oakland and a lot of games against Baltimore the playoffs aren’t out of reach. But I would listen on Semien.
Trading Semien, Ray, Dolis, Kay, Matz, Stripling, Jansen, Dickerson etc is a matter if they are all in and going for the win. It really is all or nothing now. They need a very good starter, a reliever and a shutdown closer.
The Jays Mgmt may says they want to win abut anything short of acquiring this list of talent means they should do a selloff in prep for next year.
Jimmer I doubt they get much for Jansen, even if he was healthy. A below average catcher that can’t even hit his weight would not be on very many manager league rosters. Watched 3 or 4 catchers, that are considered defensive minded, get released in the last couple weeks because they were only hitting 200ish. That is a batting average roughly 25 points higher than Jansen and they were defense first catchers, something Jansen is NOT.
Baseball reference gives us a 47.1% chance of making the playoffs. We are not out of the race
This series against the Red Sox will tell a lot. If they get swept by the Red Sox and Oakland wins 3 or 4 during that time…. Maybe the team sells? But even then I doubt it.
Light schedule, outside shot at a wildcard, good young team that would hate to be sellers and an upcoming move back to Toronto. A sell off would really suck the excitement out of the return home.
Semien and Ray certainly have value but they’re huge pieces of the team and would get a QO. Maybe they move Matz in a semi-sell off… but he wouldn’t net much. Jansen or McGuire maybe… but I wouldn’t really call that selling with the other young catchers they have.
I just don’t see it happening.
Depends on the offer, jays will get a comp pick if he leaves so it would need to be a pretty good offer to justify moving him
Kirby finally getting the call! Will never forget the day annoying little kids spent the entire game in the bullpen heckling him saying he looked like a Viking
Everybody needs a Shmead
Now let’s go get Hand /Hudson.
Anyone see the July 26th Redsox Jays game? Man is Gurriel Jr a butcher in left field. Time to try him at third?
Can you trade designated players for each other? Maybe the Jays would take Roel Ramirez from the Mets for him, because there could be an open spot on the Mets if they’re not ready to activate Carrasco. Eickhoff will be gone after the last out of tonight’s game.