The Dodgers reached agreement with reliever Joe Jacques on a minor league contract, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today (X link). The Gaeta Sports Management client receives an invite to big league Spring Training.
Jacques elected minor league free agency a few weeks ago. He’d been squeezed off the Diamondbacks’ roster midseason. Arizona designated him for assignment when they acquired A.J. Puk a week before the trade deadline. Jacques cleared waivers and spent the rest of the season on an outright assignment to Triple-A Reno.
A 6’4″ lefty, Jacques has pitched in the majors in each of the past two seasons. He made 23 appearances for the Red Sox in 2023, turning in 26 2/3 innings of 5.06 ERA ball. Jacques only pitched twice in the majors this year — once apiece for the Sox and D-Backs. He gave up three runs in as many innings. The Manhattan College product pitched in 40 games in the minors, all but one of which came at the Triple-A level. He allowed 5.48 earned runs per nine across 42 2/3 innings. Jacques struck out 20.7% of batters faced while issuing walks at a slightly elevated 10.6% clip.
Like a lot of lefty relievers, Jacques relies on a sinker-slider/sweeper combination. He doesn’t throw hard, sitting in the 90-91 MPH range with his fastball. That limits the swing-and-miss upside, but he has done an excellent job keeping the ball on the ground. Jacques induced grounders at a 60.4% clip en route to a 2.54 ERA in Triple-A in 2023. He has a similarly impressive 61.9% ground-ball percentage in his MLB career. He’ll vie for a situational role in Spring Training. Anthony Banda, Alex Vesia, Zach Logue and youngster Justin Wrobleski are the only left-handers on L.A.’s 40-man roster.
Trying to buy another championship, I see.
Yep. Pathetic
Please explain to me how picking up a guy with 30 innings MLB experience and an ERA in the bigs of about 5 1/2 is buying another championship?
It’s a joke. He’s mocking the criticism the Dodgers face every year they win when they do what every other club has the ability to (perhaps not the magnitude, but to spend at the very least).
Aah. Thank you.
Vesia is also a LH on the 40 man roster.
yeah, but he’s not vying for a situational role like the others listed. tbf, Banda isn’t either after the season he just had.
A Jacques of all trades.
Or is that a Jacques of all trade rumors?
All these guys who have signed minor league contracts, I haven’t heard of any of them. MLB teams trying to stretch the soup as depth on most teams is in short supply. Can’t wait for expansion.
Wow, good for him, moving on up from his job at Strickland Propane.
Red Sox west continues!!!
Betts, Brasier, Hernandez, Jacques….
Which level? Rookie?
Cafe Jacques, a great group from back in the day. Phil Collins on drums.
Does he have a brother named Billy?
He’s got the Jacques!
Jacques itch more like it.
It’s pronounced Jakes, not Jocks, you idiot! And he’s got talent so wise up.
Try to enjoy the season and what these guys work so hard for. I’m sure a World Series team knows talent when they see it, I say Congrats as we all should.
Joe Frenchy