The Blue Jays have claimed right-hander Casey Lawrence off waivers from the Mariners, according to announcements from both clubs. The righty had been designated for assignment by Seattle over the weekend. The Jays opened a 40-man roster spot yesterday by transferring Ryan Burr to the 60-day injured list. Lawrence is out of options so the Jays will need to open an active roster spot once he reports to the club.
Lawrence, 37, is a veteran swingman who has bounced between the Jays, Mariners and Cardinals in his big league career. He has often served as a multi-inning reliever, soaking up innings to save an overworked pitching staff from further taxation.
This year, he has essentially been the 41st man on Seattle’s 40-man roster. He started the season with the Mariners on a minor league deal. They have selected his contract to the roster three times. In all three cases, he was designated for assignment within a few days. In the first two instances, he cleared waivers and then returned to the big league club once needed. He has a 3.60 earned run average in ten innings over four appearances.
This time, he didn’t clear waivers, as the Jays now have a need for such a pitcher. They recently optioned Easton Lucas, dropping their five-man rotation down to four. Thanks to some off-days, the club planned to go with a four-man rotation for a while, but a rainout on Saturday seemingly altered those plans.
Both Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt had to start yesterday to cover the doubleheader, which was the result of the postponement. The club is off today then has Bowden Francis on schedule for tomorrow. José Berríos could start on regular rest on Wednesday after starting on Friday. But neither Gausman nor Bassitt would be on regular rest for Wednesday’s game. Jake Bloss started for Triple-A Buffalo yesterday and won’t be an option by Wednesday either. Lucas was only optioned a week ago, on April 21. He can’t return to the big league within 15 days of that move unless replacing an injured player on the roster. Eric Lauer is an option as he’s been in the Triple-A rotation and tossed five innings on Thursday, though he’s not on the 40-man roster at present.
Perhaps Lawrence will make a spot start or simply give the club a long relief option for the next few days. Paxton Schultz tossed 57 pitches in relief of Gausman in the first game of yesterday’s twin bill, one of six relievers the club used yesterday. Schultz might not be available for a few days after that, so Lawrence could step in as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.
It’s entirely possible that it will be another short stint for Lawrence on a club’s roster, just with the Jays this time instead of the Mariners, something he recently spoke to Tim Booth of The Seattle Times about. “I think I’m used to kind of the movement of it,” Lawrence said. “And I think it’s one of those things where you understand your role in the team and you’re willing to do whatever is going to help the team. Right now, it’s kind of doing this.”
Though living out of a suitcase is surely a challenge, Lawrence seems to be focused on appreciating what time in the majors he does have left. “I’ve been fortunate, like I said, and I never take it for granted,” Lawrence said. “Especially when you’re like this, you’re kind of riding the roller coaster a little bit. So I take every day for what it’s worth, and really try to be where my feet are, just be a part of the team.”
Though he’s still carving out some playing time, he’s self-aware enough that his mind has wandered to what’s next. “I know that at 37, I’m on the back end of my career. And I know when I’m done playing, I want to get into player development or front office, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say, I’ve had those conversations of, ‘Am I ready for that yet?’ But I’m not there yet,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Brashear, Imagn Images
Casey Lawrence has played for the Blue Jays, Mariners, and Cardinals.
Ross Atkins, Jerry Dipoto, and John Mozeliak.
The trio of were hear to bring depth…. Ten years later where’s all our depth????
@bigdaddyt
The waiver wire, Indy ball, or bagging groceries.
Oh, M’s thought they could pass this guy up and down the system and the Jays took the risk. Would be interesting if the Jays keep him on the 40-man or if they keep doing the same the M’s were doing.
If they do watch the Mariners claim him
Old York: He’ll be going back to the M’s like a magnet.
I’d imagine the mariners will claim him if/when the jays dfa him
He is terrible
Understatement of the year…
Let’s put that statement in perspective. He is better than 99% of all the “adult” professional or semi-pro baseball players in the world.
In 2024 approximately 2,800,000 players 16 or older worldwide played organized baseball with more than 162,000 playing professional or semi-pro ball. 1224 played in MLB from 22 countries. Lawrence was one of those 1224.
Another bandaid for the LOUSY GM shapiro……
He’s not the GM.
That’s right, this stiff will get Scherzer’s next start.
Max isn’t back until at least June according to At the letters podcast
heartbroken, and to our arch-rivals the Blue Jays. At least fewer Canadians will be here in two weeks to rub it in.
Don’t worry, Big C, you’ll be back on waivers soon enough
Why in the world would you be heartbroken over Lawrence?
This is a strategically sound move. Not picking up Lawrence but keeping their depth pieces on the waiver wire instead of the minors.
Wow, Casey and the Mariners never accounted for this scenario
Same team and management but different year. #BlueJays
This photo he looks like a sad capital “A”
He should change his name to K.C. Larry just to mess with people.
KC Larry Bernandez!
Anybody else notice that the pic they use makes his legs look like he’s got stilts under his uni pants? His legs are six feet long.
His nickname is Twigs.
Lawrence is a veteran player with 15 years combined between MLB, NPB, and the minor leagues. He will have 3 years of service time in the majors if he can stick for 110 days on the major league roster this season, his 5th in the majors.
He will make a prorated portion of the MLB minimum of $760K plus 2 meals per day when the team is at home and $117.70 per day per diem when they are on the road.
When he returns to the minors he is guaranteed a prorated portion of $123,900 per year or whatever he agreed to when he signed his minor league deal with the team.
For journeyman guys like Lawrence, their families don’t move with them other than the time he played in the NPB in 2019. Lawrence and his wife Sarah, along with their two children, live in Hanover PA in the offseason, about 2 miles from where they both grew up in McSherrystown.
While it’s not the life that the stars live, making $12k – $20k per month for 6 months out of the year doing what you love is not a bad life at all even if you are only getting a cup of coffee in the majors every couple of years.
Well said, Surfer. He puts on a big-league uniform and takes a big-league mound. Something most of us can only dream of. Best of luck to him with the Jays.
I get it, however he doesnt help the Jays or the Mariners, In fact was wasnt any good in the minors either, sorry. Hopefully I am wrong and he pans out….
Gloves, apparently you don’t get it.
He does help the Jays, or they would not have signed him. Even if its just acting as organizational filler or eating a few innings while getting pounded until another pitcher returns from an injury, he is providing them with value, or he would not be playing for the Blue Jays organization.
Why
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A stash in AAA move which paints a dark picture on the Jays’ inability to draft (or sign internationally) and develop pitching depth.
Given the M’s are among the best at developing pitching, and have needed Lawrence badly this year, I don’t think this move condemns the Jays.
Nobody said it did. They need AAA help.
Lawrence has no options. He has to agree to go to the minors; he selected free agency when DFA’d earlier this season.
Wasn’t this supposed to be Yarborough?