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Blue Jays Designate Jake Lamb For Assignment

By Darragh McDonald | September 23, 2021 at 7:17pm CDT

The Blue Jays have designated infielder Jake Lamb for assignment, according to a team announcement. His spot on the 40-man roster was needed for fellow infielder Breyvic Valera, who has been reinstated from the COVID-related IL. Additionally, left-handed pitcher Tayler Saucedo was optioned to Triple-A and right-handed pitcher Thomas Hatch recalled to take his place.

Lamb was picked up off waivers by the Blue Jays on September 3rd to help add some depth at third base in the wake of injuries to Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal. Since that time, he’s been sharing time at the hot corner with Valera. He hasn’t been able to help the Canadian birds too much, in a small sample of just 12 games, slashing .129/.256/.290, for a wRC+ of 49. Since Lamb was claimed after August 31st, he wouldn’t have been playoff eligible, and is also headed to free agency at the end of the season. Those factors, combined with the fact that Biggio and Espinal are both on rehab assignments and nearing returns, edged him out of Toronto’s plans.

He had a better showing for the White Sox earlier in the season, when he slashed .212/.321/.389 over 43 games, a wRC+ of 99. But even that wasn’t good enough to hold onto a roster spot, as the Pale Hose opted to give that playing time to Romy Gonzalez instead. Lamb had two excellent campaigns for the Diamondbacks in 2016 and 2017, hitting .248/.345/.498, production that was 12% better than league average, according to wRC+. However, after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2018, he hasn’t been able to reach that same level of production, although his walk rate is still good. From 2019 to the present, his line is .193/.309/.358, wRC+ of 81. He’ll now see if any team is intrigued enough to give him some at-bats down the stretch, though any team doing so wouldn’t be able to use him in the postseason.

As for Valera, he’s back after just a single day on the IL. It was a precautionary placement on account of a family member testing positive. Since he’s back so quickly, it can be assumed that he himself did not test positive. In 36 games with the Jays this year, the switch-hitter has a line of .253/.308/.361, for a wRC+ of 81.

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Toronto Blue Jays Breyvic Valera Jake Lamb Tayler Saucedo Thomas Hatch

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View Comments (21)
Post a Comment

21 Comments

  1. mrmackey

    4 years ago

    A sacrificial Lamb.

    10
    Reply
    • The Mets "Missed WAR"

      4 years ago

      I really like Darragh McDonald’s writing style. He referred to the Toronto Blue Jays as “the Canadian Birds” and the Chicago White Sox as “the Pale Hose” in the exact same article. Sports writing needs more of that. I am now officially a fan. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

      7
      Reply
      • sergefunction

        4 years ago

        You mean the Golden Era of sportswriting, when ink-stained wretches like Red Ruffansore wrote “Lamb was given a one-way ducat to Palookaville. Given his walking papers. The first-sacker got sacked. The Junior Circuit’s Hogtown brass gave Lamb his pink slip.

        ChiSox Hurler Hatch summoned from the farm when southpaw Saucedo was sent out for seasoning.

        Those scribes have scrammed.

        4
        Reply
    • Fever Pitch Guy

      4 years ago

      Jays now 4-5 in their last nine games …. the Curse of Lamb?

      2
      Reply
      • Fever Pitch Guy

        4 years ago

        4-6 The Curse Continues

        1
        Reply
  2. jimmertee

    4 years ago

    Lamb stew.

    1
    Reply
  3. CATS44

    4 years ago

    Lamb chopped.

    4
    Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      4 years ago

      Very nice.

      Reply
    • mrmackey

      4 years ago

      That was what happened when the Braves cut him.

      Reply
  4. "Not" Rick Hahn

    4 years ago

    Lamb of GOAT

    1
    Reply
  5. julyn82001

    4 years ago

    He was good with the A’s. Hopefully, Lamb can get another chance with some other team…

    1
    Reply
    • Rexwood

      4 years ago

      Yeah, a sandlot team

      Reply
    • Sourcetags

      4 years ago

      Yea, D-backs fan here, he was fun to watch with us before his surgery. I hope he continues to get chances and gets right again.

      1
      Reply
    • stymeedone

      4 years ago

      Just amazed at how we lower our standards, so that 12% above average is used interchangeably with excellent.

      Reply
  6. Orel Saxhiser

    4 years ago

    In response to the move, Lamb placed his complete set of Blue Jays defensive positioning cards on eBay, where they will be available to the highest bidder.

    6
    Reply
    • vikingbluejay67

      4 years ago

      You have KK’s attention.

      1
      Reply
  7. kiddhoff

    4 years ago

    Phone rings
    AJ – Hello?
    J. Lamb – Mr. Preller, this is Jake….
    AJ – Peavy???!!!!!!
    J. Lamb – ummm, yeah
    AJ – You’re starting Sunday

    6
    Reply
  8. whyhayzee

    4 years ago

    Maybe he can lie down on Broadway. That could be the Genesis of his come back and the trick of his tale.

    2
    Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      4 years ago

      You beat me to it, well done, I’m a huge Genesis fan.

      Reply
  9. slimmycito

    4 years ago

    Send Stripling with him

    1
    Reply
    • Dustyslambchops23

      4 years ago

      Need someone to be a long guy in the pen,

      Reply

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