The Blue Jays have claimed Luis Frías off of waivers from the Diamondbacks, according to his transaction log on MLB.com. Arizona designated the right-hander for assignment on Thursday to make room for catcher Andrew Knizner on the 40-man roster. As Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet first noted, Frías will report to Triple-A Buffalo. Toronto had two open spots on the 40-man roster, so no corresponding move will be necessary.
Frías has spent his entire career in the Diamondbacks organization; he signed with Arizona as a 17-year-old international free agent in 2015. The righty made his MLB debut in 2021, and since then, he has pitched 57 2/3 big league innings with a 6.55 ERA and 5.42 SIERA. He throws hard, averaging close to 96 mph on his four-seam fastball, but he has struggled to induce enough strikeouts at the MLB level. What’s more, he has walked 43 of the 276 batters he has faced; his 15.6% career walk rate is barely lower than his 18.1% career strikeout rate. Unfortunately, his numbers at Triple-A Reno aren’t much better. He has a 4.88 ERA and 6.32 FIP this season in 24 innings pitched. Throughout his career, he has a 4.26 ERA over 124 2/3 innings with the Reno Aces.
All that said, Frías is still just 26 years old, and he was once a relatively well-regarded prospect. Before he graduated from prospect status during the 2022 season, FanGraphs ranked him as the No. 12 prospect in the D-backs system, while Baseball America and Keith Law of The Athletic had him at No. 17. Baseball America ranked him as highly as No. 8 ahead of the 2020 campaign, writing “He could be a force in the rotation if it all clicks. Otherwise, his path might lead him to a high-leverage relief role.” While his days as a starting pitcher are likely all in the past, the Blue Jays must be hoping Frías still has a future as a big league reliever. He’ll provide some extra depth for their bullpen this year, which ranks last in the AL in ERA and second-last in SIERA. As for next year, he’ll be out of options, so Toronto will either need to add him to the Opening Day roster or designate him for assignment.
The BlueJays season is saved…..sarcasm heavy..
Has your #scoutseyez ever scouted someone who had god awful results but they turned into a major league contributor or do you really think your brilliant by making evaluations on players from a small sample size at the major league level? If it’s the later that’s not being a scout because everyone had access to those numbers.
This wasn’t the time to drop this type of comment. Nice handle though.
I’ve been lurking on here for years, and have seen you defend jimmer who must be some relative to you. Only plausible explanation.
You read wrong. Cant defend the Bo “wrists” theory or his insistence that Schneider replace Montoyo. If by defending you mean others with no clue going after him and I jump in, then yes I guess you could call it defending? Anyway nice to meet you.
Confirmed spouses
We are so devastated by this.
It was a matter of time before he would get DFAd but he still his age on his side. I could see him becoming a major league bullpen piece somewhere for some years.
Now that Jarvis is done and Sewald is in a very bad place we could use a little bit to Frias.
good riddance
Tantalizing 96 MPH fastball, but…Frias always came up short as a Dback. Frias lacked the 3Cs with the Dbacks: Control, Consistency and Confidence.
The cutter never helped Frias or the Dbacks. Look at the Dback injuries this year that threw the cutter. Merrill Kelly, Kyle Nelson, Jarvis, Walston. Every good Dbacks pitchers throws the Roger Beshens Football Slider. On center grip, throw like football, stiff wrist.
This must be Mark and carry-on doing better …..
The Dbacks know the Roger Beshens Football Slider. Frias just needed a session with Beshens..