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Blue Jays Sign Josh Walker

By Darragh McDonald | December 20, 2024 at 5:05pm CDT

The Blue Jays announced that they have signed left-hander Josh Walker to a one-year split contract. Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, the southpaw will make $760K, which is next year’s league minimum, for time spent in the majors. The Associated Press reports that he’ll be paid at a $180K rate while in the minors. Right-hander Hagen Danner has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move.

Walker, 30, has a little bit of major league experience. He tossed 22 1/3 innings with the Mets over the past two seasons, allowing 6.45 earned runs per nine in that small sample. He struck out 22.7% of batters faced while giving out walks at an 11.7% clip. He was designated for assignment by the Mets in July and flipped to the Pirates, though the Bucs designated him for assignment shortly thereafter and eventually released him.

Those major league numbers aren’t especially impressive, but the Jays are likely attracted to his minor league work, where he has shown huge strikeout ability but also significant control issues. He has thrown 89 innings on the farm over the past three years with a 3.54 ERA, giving out walks to 12.7% of opponents but also punching them out at a huge 33.7% rate. The Jays were seemingly intrigued enough by those numbers to give Walker a 40-man roster spot.

Remaking the bullpen is an ongoing project for the Jays after the group let them down in 2024. Toronto relievers had a collective 4.82 ERA this year, with only the Rockies posting a worse number in that category. Since the season ended, Génesis Cabrera and Jordan Romano were both cut from the roster and both have signed with other clubs already. The Jays re-signed Yimi García, who they had traded to the Mariners last year, and also acquired Nick Sandlin in the Andrés Giménez trade.

Prior to this deal, the only lefty relievers on the roster were Brendon Little, Brandon Eisert and Easton Lucas. It’s a very inexperienced group, as none of those southpaws has even thrown 50 big league innings yet. Walker adds another lefty into that competition and he still has an option year remaining, as do the other three, so they might take turns moving between the big leagues and Triple-A throughout the year. Walker still has less than a year of service time, so he can be cheaply retained for many years to come if he continues to hang onto his roster spot.

Danner, 26, he was drafted as a catcher but struck out a lot in the lower levels of the minors and got moved to the mound. In 2021, he tossed 35 2/3 innings at High-A with a 2.02 ERA, 29.4% strikeout rate and 8.4% walk rate. That was his first professional season as a pitcher but he was already Rule 5 eligible due to the years he spent behind the plate. The Jays gave him a 40-man roster spot after that season to prevent him from being plucked away.

He has hit a few speed bumps since then. He spent most of 2022 on the injured list and only made four minor league appearances. In 2023, he was healthy enough to throw 28 1/3 Triple-A innings with a 3.81 ERA. His 31.5% strikeout rate and 6.3% walk rate were quite good but he allowed eight home runs. He also made his major league debut that year but only tossed one third of an inning before landing on the injured list due to an oblique strain. In 2024, he logged 34 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level with a 3.15 ERA, 23.3% strikeout rate and 8.9% walk rate.

Overall, the results haven’t been bad, but he hasn’t been able to pitch much due to the time spent catching and the health issues. He has just 114 1/3 professional innings on his ledger thus far and he has just one option year remaining.

DFA limbo normally lasts a week but recent years have seen that clock paused over the period from Christmas to New Year’s. On this date last year, Ryan Jensen was designated for assignment by the Marlins and he wasn’t claimed off waivers by the Twins until January 4, over two weeks later. That will give the Jays some time to see if there’s any trade interest in Danner.

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Toronto Blue Jays Transactions Hagen Danner Josh Walker

Marlins Sign Eric Wagaman, Designate Vidal Bruján
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Mariners, Nationals, Mets Interested In Paul Goldschmidt
View Comments (54)
Post a Comment

54 Comments

  1. bhd360

    6 months ago

    Ross Atkins just going crazy right now, slow down big boy

    9
    Reply
    • TheRickestRick

      6 months ago

      Better then nothing
      Close to nothing
      But not nothing
      Every team need bum lefty in the bullpen

      Reply
      • bhd360

        6 months ago

        If that’s the case just bring back Genesis

        Reply
        • TheRickestRick

          6 months ago

          Genesis is already signed with the Mets
          Would be hard to sign him now

          3
          Reply
        • bigdaddyt

          6 months ago

          I believe they meant that why would they not have given Genesis a contract instead of non tendering him allowing him to freely sign with the Mets but let’s throw some sas at someone who’s already down because ya know it’s the jays

          Reply
        • bhd360

          6 months ago

          Which only happened because he was DFA’d. Just meant if we’re signing meh lefties why not keep the one you already have who has so far proven to be less meh than this meh option?

          The fact I’m even talking about this should tell you the mental state of this fan base rn

          Reply
    • Theodore

      6 months ago

      Collecting more garbage for minor leagues

      Reply
  2. NYCityRiddler

    6 months ago

    Wrong Walker. Ahahahaha!

    6
    Reply
    • Unclemike1526

      6 months ago

      NYCRiddler- I wanted to say that. Well done.

      Reply
      • NYCityRiddler

        6 months ago

        Thanks Uncle!

        Reply
  3. Marqueef Grissom

    6 months ago

    world series, print the papers now

    Reply
    • tom brunanskys black sock

      6 months ago

      This never gets old! Hilarious! Exemplary wit!

      14
      Reply
      • Theodore

        6 months ago

        What the hell is Atkins doing another player that sucks .

        4
        Reply
        • bestone

          6 months ago

          Be kind to Ross…he’s had a rough week with all those signings…

          1
          Reply
        • Theodore

          6 months ago

          He has had a ruff year for 6 of the last 10 years

          1
          Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      6 months ago

      When can I buy a Looney Dog?

      1
      Reply
  4. exposjays

    6 months ago

    Another bandaid,,, sigh !!

    1
    Reply
    • Theodore

      6 months ago

      Another band aid , how can u even consider this guy as a signing . Another dumb ass move by this organization to continue their tend of signing nobodies , fans stay away fro the stadium and maybe empty seats will infuriate Rogers enough to get rid of these 2 twits

      3
      Reply
  5. MuleorAstroMule

    6 months ago

    How do those numbers warrant a major league contract?

    1
    Reply
    • Theodore

      6 months ago

      Typical Atkins and Shapiro signing to better this franchise , can you fans stop going or buying tickets to this overpriced franchise until they start putting mlb players on the field .

      1
      Reply
    • bestone

      6 months ago

      He was cut twice last year…last time by the Pirates.
      Not a good sign.

      1
      Reply
      • Theodore

        6 months ago

        All guys Atkins signed last 3 years in particular have been same typ of people all cuts by mlb teams

        Reply
  6. Edp007

    6 months ago

    Rumours all over the net. CBS reports jays talking w Vlad on extension 500-600 m
    Also report Walker signs w Astros 3 years 60 mill. The writers here are watching college football with phones silenced.

    Reply
    • Edp007

      6 months ago

      Sleeping on the Vladdy rumours I meant

      Reply
    • tom brunanskys black sock

      6 months ago

      Source?

      TwitterSportzKiddo69?

      Reply
      • Edp007

        6 months ago

        CBS and local media

        Reply
      • Edp007

        6 months ago

        Google Vladdy’s name and it’s everywhere. Nytimes, etc etc Sportsnet in Canada ( owned by Rogers) everywhere but here

        Reply
  7. Schlootle

    6 months ago

    Atkins gonna be in for it when he realizes he signed the wrong Walker

    Reply
    • bestone

      6 months ago

      He got a “deal” however

      Reply
  8. ontario_dave

    6 months ago

    Looks like Shatkins is hoping to maintain that 5 ERA bullpen. What an exciting off-season so far. You would think Atkins might feel a little more urgency considering he should’ve been fired at the end of 2023 and before last season’s last place finish…. One blunder after another and one excuse after another.

    4
    Reply
    • MuleorAstroMule

      6 months ago

      I just don’t understand how they apparently had the money to sign Ohtani or Soto but nobody else as their window of contention closes.

      Reply
      • RotiniRick

        6 months ago

        The interest in Ohtani was more than his skill set. Roger’s rightfully also saw him as an investment so the money they had allocated for him wasn’t spent on player B, C, or D because the return would not have be as beneficial after he signed with LA

        Same thing to a lesser extent with Soto.

        Reply
        • MuleorAstroMule

          6 months ago

          In terms of production, the best free agents also cost the most. I understand perhaps they saw Ohtani as a marketing vehicle, but that’s hard to argue about Soto.

          There just seems to be a giant disconnect between courting the two top players but then signing guys like Kiner-Falefa and Turner. Why there isn’t a middle ground when the window is closing is a bit baffling.

          2
          Reply
        • high_upside

          6 months ago

          This totally! We’re totally playing at the top it bottom of the market. Nothing in between

          Reply
  9. Edp007

    6 months ago

    Vladdy 13 for 565. Heard it here first

    Reply
    • Theodore

      6 months ago

      People listen Vlad will not sign here with the way this management team is doing business , he will go to the highest bidder at end of season , why would he want to play for Atkins and Shapiro , and no other talent on the team always will finish at bottom of division if they keep going like this, also who would want to sign here with these two twits in control. These signing lately have not even been good enough to play in Buffalo and that’s saying a lot because the minor league teams in this franchise have no talent on them like the mlb team

      1
      Reply
    • Old York

      6 months ago

      Vlad is going to the open market, given how much money an essentially DH got this year, he’s going to want his cut. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees or Mets are waiting for him. Given how terrible the team has managed his opportunity, the Jays would probably have to offer him $700+ to stay on that sinking ship.

      Reply
  10. CTS4

    6 months ago

    How on earth can you compete with a signing like this….the GM shapiro and his incompetent lackie are the Wrong people running this club.
    the lousy GM shapiro and his 4A coach schneider are lame ducks.

    The Nightmare continues….

    Reply
    • Theodore

      6 months ago

      This is a minor league outfit trying to run mlb team . Fans have to stop attending games with what these guys are putting on the field . Stop paying a lot of money for a minor league team , we should not go to games and then maybe Rogers will get the point . Plenty of renovation to stadium to increase prices on tickets , but they are putting crap product on the field

      1
      Reply
    • Theodore

      6 months ago

      They should bloody be embarrassed making big announcement on signings like this to the fans of Blue Jay, , but that’s how ignorant and annoying Atkins and Shapiro are.

      1
      Reply
    • KingKat

      6 months ago

      It’s a depth move. All teams make them. This has no barring on whether they compete or not. The lynchpin of the offseason (so far) is the Cleveland deal.

      Reply
  11. GO1962

    6 months ago

    Could it be that the Blue Jays front office is trying to trick all of the Canucks north of the border into thinking that this Walker guy is either the Walker who is the All-Star caliber player who played in the desert south of the border, or the Walker who is a Canuck, not knowing that the Canuck retired a long time ago?

    Reply
    • KingKat

      6 months ago

      No.

      Reply
  12. jimmertee

    6 months ago

    Answer this question: “all I want for Christmas for the BlueJays is….”

    1
    Reply
  13. RandalGrichuksStubble

    6 months ago

    World Series in Canada confirmed.

    Reply
  14. YourDreamGM

    6 months ago

    A

    Reply
  15. LFGMets (Metsin7) #BannedForBeingABaseballExpertAGAIN)

    6 months ago

    One of the worst relievers that I’ve seen in the past 5 years, and thats saying something. Hopefully their next move is to sign Drew Smith, I’ve been getting ulcers of the thought of him being back with the Mets

    Reply
    • Theodore

      6 months ago

      That’s the type of play Atkins and Shapiro like and Rogers does not seem to give a lick . These guys should have been fired a long time ago , but maybe even go further than that and never been hired . They do not hold a candle to Pat Gillick of Anthopoulos .

      1
      Reply
  16. Theodore

    6 months ago

    It’s not that do not want to play in Canada , it’s they do not want to play for Atkins or Shapiro , u realize they are the lowest ranked management team by other mlb clubs , wake up Rogers .

    1
    Reply
  17. Theodore

    6 months ago

    MLB should not even bother reporting these types of deals by the Blue Jays management

    Reply
    • KingKat

      6 months ago

      They report them for all teams.

      1
      Reply
  18. Franx

    6 months ago

    Hagen Danner? The only guy that was worth a damn in the Bisons bullpen that has one option remaining… And you DFA him? Wtf is going on?

    1
    Reply

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