The Blue Jays have designated infielder Michael Stefanic and catcher Ali Sánchez for assignment, per a team announcement. Their spots on the roster will go to second baseman Andrés Giménez and catcher Tyler Heineman, who have formally been reinstated from the injured list.
Stefanic, 29, appeared in nine games for the Jays after Giménez hit the injured list and went 4-for-22 with four singles, three walks and three strikeouts. That marked the fourth season in which he’s logged big league time but the first that he’s done so for any team other than the Angels. Stefanic has appeared in 99 MLB games and batted .227/.314/.267 in 289 trips to the plate.
For all his struggles in limited big league time, Stefanic has excelled at the top level in the minors. He’s played parts of five Triple-A seasons and touts a .344/.436/.468 batting line in a hefty sample of 1568 plate appearances. Stefanic has drawn 190 walks in Triple-A (12.2%) against just 147 strikeouts (9.7%). He has nearly 3000 career innings at second base and about 700 innings of work at both shortstop and third base. He’s regarded as a poor defender at each spot, however, and offers below-average grades in both power and speed as well.
The 28-year-old Sánchez went 2-for-11 with a double in his short time with the Jays. He was selected to the major league roster when Heineman hit the 7-day concussion injured list. This is Sánchez’s fourth season with a brief big league appearance, but he’s never tallied more than 31 games or 96 plate appearances at the major league level in a given season. He’s a .176/.217/.222 hitter in 43 MLB games/121 plate appearances.
Though he’s never hit in his limited MLB time, Sánchez is regarded as a quality defensive backstop with a nice track record at the plate in Triple-A. He’s played parts of six seasons there and turned in a .266/.338/.399 batting line. It’s not exactly standout production, particularly in typically hitter-friendly Triple-A settings, but Sánchez puts the ball in play at a better-than-average clip and walks in nearly 10% of his plate appearances in Triple-A; for a catcher with a sound defensive skill set, that’s decent production — certainly enough to make him a quality No. 3 or No. 4 catcher on a team’s depth chart.
The maximum length of the DFA window for either Stefanic or Sánchez is seven days. The Jays are free to explore trades or place them on waivers along the way, although since waivers are a 48-hour process, they’d need to have a trade lined up within five days or else go the waiver route with either or both players.
Aside from maybe some delusional Angels fans, who made those comps?
He’s never really gotten much of a chance.
Just bleeping great now we got to watch Davis Schneider and his 100 batting average…take at bats away from Johnathon Clause, Allan Rodon, Ernie Clement and Addison Barger….love watching this moron of a manager we have. Worst part is the team sometimes wins in spite of his moves and makes him think he is a major league manager.
Just checked lineup and he is in there again tonight. Why John Schneider? Why?
They called up Allan Rodon because he was doing well in the minors but has not gotten into a game yet other than pinch run but Schneider did nothing in the majors and nothing in the minors and gets called up and is put in the lineup everyday? Why?
They have been facing nothing but LH starting pitchers since he was called up. Schneider strongly believes in the LH/RH approach to lineups
Well why is Gimmenez and Barger in there? Barger maybe but Gimmenz is not tearing the casing of the ball or anything?
They could have also waited another day and kept Stefanic for this game and NOT DHed Springer. Maybe use Kirk there and start Hienamen. Lots of better ways to make out a lineup but this is the same manager that can’t see having Vladdy in the 2 hole is not helping.
Gemminez was just activated today so I think they want to see how he looks. Barger should play every day with how he is hitting and fielding. I would love to have a real lead off hitter and move Bo and Vladfy to the 2-3 role, but, this is the team we have.
@TennVoll actually a RH started on Saturday and Rodon was left on the bench in place of Lukes who is a LH bat and a 30 year old 4th outfielder.
How gimenez looks lol gg defense but can’t hit so he’s useless except for late inning defense at this point.
A horrendous trade that added salary when they desperately needed a bat. Or another arm.
Gimenez should be glued to the bench until about the 8th inning to play defense if necessary.
Because Davis Schneider was great for two weeks in 2023, obviously.
Ahh that’s why!!! Sounds about right for John Schneider’s thought process.