The Blue Jays signed reliever Rowan Wick to a minor league contract. He made his organizational debut with Triple-A Buffalo this evening.
Wick’s transaction log at MLB.com indicated he’d agreed to a minor league deal with the Braves last week. He was released three days later without making an appearance. That quick turnaround led to a shot with Toronto.
The 30-year-old appeared in the majors with the Cubs every season between 2019-22. He combined for a 3.66 ERA across 137 2/3 innings, missing bats at a slightly above-average rate but issuing a few more walks than ideal. The Cubs ran him through outright waivers in Spring Training and had kept him in Triple-A for the first half before releasing him last month.
Wick has had a tough season at the top minor league level. He’s been tagged for more than a run per inning through 30 1/3 frames. His 24.1% strikeout percentage was fine, but he’d walked upwards of 13% of batters faced and allowed nine home runs. Wick is making $1.55MM this season; the Cubs are on the hook for that tab, as Toronto will only owe him the prorated portion of the $720K minimum salary if he spends any time on the big league roster.
Toronto has had a solid relief corps this year. They entered play Wednesday ranked 10th with a 3.80 ERA and fourth at a 26.2% strikeout rate. A pair of trades with St. Louis to bring in Jordan Hicks and Génesis Cabrera further deepened the group. There’s no harm in taking a change-of-scenery flier on Wick to add some veteran depth to the upper level of the minor league system.
Wow. Braves must really not have wanted him.
Joshy- The Braves thought it was John Wick. when they figured out who it really was they made the right choice and ran for the hills.
I think I would’ve ran for the hill if it was Rowan or John
Atkins doing what he knows best. grovelling in the dumpster for a glazed donut. Usually gets a soggy bun with gravy.ERA of 9. jeebus!
Lame
The amount of clowns who criticize minor league depth signings on this site is alarming. Not only does it show you have no idea how to run a franchise, I bet you think you can just sign great free agents right now. Like it’s past the deadline wtf you think they’re bringing in right now? Just stfu instead of making yourself look clueless.
Another former Cardinal on the roster.
Is this Mr Bean?
The Wicks are hard to kill off
Meh. Nothing to see here.
It sucks because Toronto is terrible in the East but the Red Sox keep losing so Blue Jays will get wild card. They only have to take one from us this weekend and will be okay. Red Sux keep losing. The season is done for the Sux.
The Sox will sweep my Jays this weekend. The Jays cannot beat the AL East teams. The Jays have the best starting pitching in the division but have no bats. Pathetic offense.
Yet they will still get wild card over Red Sox. I doubt we sweep though
This is a minor league deal. This pickup is fine. He will pitch in Buffalo and we will see if he can get IBL hitters out.
I have to wonder if he failed a physical with the Braves