The Blue Jays announced they’ve claimed corner infielder/outfielder Jake Lamb off waivers from the White Sox. Right-hander Connor Overton was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Lamb signed a one-year deal with the White Sox over the offseason. He spent the year as a left-handed depth piece, picking up occasional starts at each of the four corner spots on the diamond as well as designated hitter. Over 131 plate appearances, Lamb hit a league average .212/.321/.389. He drew walks at a very strong 13% clip and popped six home runs in that limited time, but he also struck out in 29% of his plate appearances en route to that poor batting average.
That’s better production than Lamb had managed over the prior three seasons. He popped 59 home runs as the Diamondbacks’ regular third baseman between 2016-17, earning an All-Star nod in the latter of those two campaigns. But Lamb never regained his peak form upon suffering a shoulder injury in 2018 that eventually required surgery. Between 2018-20, he posted a .205/.309/.351 line in roughly one full season’s worth of playing time.
Lamb figures to assume a similar lefty bench bat role in Toronto. The Jays will take on what remains of his $1MM salary (approximately $171K) to bolster their position player depth as they look to erase a five-game deficit in the race for the American League’s final playoff spot. If the Jays do make the postseason, Lamb would not be eligible for the playoff roster because he was acquired after August 31. The 30-year-old will reach free agency this offseason.
Overton will be placed on waivers in the coming days. Toronto selected the 28-year-old to make his big league debut last month. Overton has been impressive in his first look, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts and two walks. And he’d been excellent this season with the Jays’ top affiliate in Buffalo, where he worked to a 2.03 ERA over 57 2/3 innings. Nevertheless, the Jays front office is evidently skeptical he can continue to prevent runs at that level without generating many whiffs. The right-hander only punched out 21.6% of opposing hitters in Triple-A and has a below-average 9.7% swinging strike rate in his brief big league look.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if another club is willing to give Overton a longer look. In addition to his strong results, Overton has all three minor league option years remaining. Any claiming team could shuttle him back and forth between the majors and Triple-A for the next couple years — if he can carve out a permanent 40-man roster spot.
Why would the Blue Jays release Brad Hand when they need bullpen help but claim Jake Lamb when they already have third and the outfield filled with depth. No wonder this team is in fourth place
Have you looked at Hand stats with the Jays?
They mirror Kimbrel’s with the Sox minus the K’s.
Has anyone looked at Hand’s stats since May? He stinks. And people everywhere talk about him like he’s some great bullpen arm. I’m soooo impressed with his 89mph fastball, 82mph changeup, and his 73mph curveball. That stuff doesnt translate into a high leverage, late inning bullpen guy.
This is a classic “tell me you don’t follow the Jays without telling me you don’t follow the Jays” comment. A few thoughts:
1. Brad Hand was truly awful as a Blue Jay – look at the stats.
2. Third base is a black hole on the Jays roster right now. Biggio and Espinal are injured and they’ve been starting replacement-level guys like Kevin Smith and Breyvic Valera there recently.
3. The irony of a Mets fan suggesting another organization is poorly managed isn’t lost on me.
Specifically in regards to adding Handing themselves.
For a couple of years with Arizona, Lamb hit a lot of loud home runs. Lately it’s been the Silence of the Lamb.
Oh you curly…
Tell me you follow the Jays without telling me you follow the Jays.. lol
Hand was useless. Third isn’t really a depth filled position for them either, especially with Espinal out.
Talk to the Hand
Biggio may not play again this season and Espinal is hurt. Lamb at least is a better offensive weapon than Valera.
Overton strikes out 4 in as many games and allows no runs but still gets cut when Jays need bullpen help? that doesn’t make sense
Don’t know why Valera wouldn’t be the corresponding move.
Love the dumpster diving lol
Huh? Jake Lamb has been awful for 3 years. The Jays need bullpen pitching help and release Overton and Hand. Double huh?
I like what the Jays brass tried at the deadline but these followup moves are puzzling.
Why not release Valera for the Lamb? Valera guy can’t even get a bunt down and was a late inning defensive replacement. Yeesh.
bucsfan…2 things.
1. Brad Hand throws 93 mph fastball and 80 mph slider.
2. The speed of the pitches is less important then how those pitches are utilized.
But I get and agree with what your ultimately getting at: Brad Hand has been garbage since the Nats traded him.
He was terrible before the Nats traded him.
Lamb isn’t a baaad signing at all for the Blue Jays –he’s got a little pop and decent eye. Perhaps they can catch lightning in a bottle.
Would like it way more if it came at the expense of Valera. Now we potentially have two bad third basemen instead of one.
Lamb has been pretty good for the sox this year..decent pick up he gave us something when he was in there
Lamb is useful. He has learned to fake it in the outfield and made up for his low average with some power and walks.
It’s a business, and he was part of roster crunch, but it kind of stinks that he was cut from a first place team with a month left in the season. But the White Sox have too many corner infielders faking it in the outfield.
For all the people who are complaining about Valera still being here, remember this is the same team that kept running Brandon Druery and Derick Fisher out there in spite of what we all knew and they still keep Jansen around in spite of him being a well below average catcher and inability to hit….so what did you expect them to do? Something that makes sense?
Not a baaaaaaaaaaad pickup.
tlr sure liked Lamb
Good take that useless F**ker.
Really dude? He wasn’t consistent, but he helped the Sox win a few games with his power. He’s a good bat to keep on the bench when you need a pinch-hitter. Too bad the Sox don’t have room for him on the roster, apparently.
A league average hitter who can play every corner spot and DH is not useless. He just wasn’t a great fit for the White Sox as they are currently constructed.
He played a lot of meaningful baseball for the team when they were without Jimenez, Robert and Engel.
I don’t know how useful Lamb can be. He hasn’t posted an OPS over .700 since 2017, even against right handed pitchers. Below .700 vs RHP this year as well. That’s not worlds better than Eaton.
I’m glad after 3 weeks of watching him do nothing that they had to finally concede that Sheets is a better hitter against righties even on a bad day. I don’t think he will be missed.
I whent two da stoar yastirday, and bot sum lamb. But now sox gots no moar lamb, and thay dont hav nun at da stoar neethur. I shooda buyed moar, ya nevur no whin dere wil be no moar lamb.