1:10pm: The Blue Jays and Orioles have both announced the claim. In a full column on the move, Kubatko offers the following quote from Duquette about Toronto’s claim of Paredes:
“The O’s tried but we just didn’t find a fit for Jimmy Paredes on this year’s team when it was time for him to be reinstated. Jimmy worked hard with us and we appreciate his contributions over the past two seasons.”
12:21pm: The Blue Jays have claimed infielder/designated hitter Jimmy Paredes off waivers from the Orioles, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (via Twitter). Baltimore placed Paredes on waivers over the weekend.
Paredes, 27, had a big first half for the O’s in 2015, batting .299/.332/.475 with 10 homers in 277 plate appearances. However, he was unable to maintain that production in the second half as his slash line dipped to .216/.252./265 in 107 plate appearances. This season, Paredes has yet to appear in a Major League game, as sprained left wrist caused him to open the season on the disabled list. Paredes batted a combined .309/.377/.471 across three minor league levels on a rehab assignment (77 plate appearances, 19 games), but the Orioles’ offseason additions left him without a clear spot on the roster.
While Paredes has played second base and third base extensively in the minors, the Orioles were skeptical enough of his defense to limit him to just 72 2/3 innings in the field last season. Even as Jonathan Schoop missed time due to injuries last season, Baltimore’s preference was to move first baseman/outfielder Steve Pearce to second base with Paredes DHing, despite the fact that Pearce had never played the position in the Majors or minors. The offseason addition of Pedro Alvarez gives the O’s another option that the club considers to be more or less a strict DH, thus leaving the team without an easy of way of carrying Paredes.
The Blue Jays currently have a bench consisting of backup catcher Josh Thole, fourth outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, backup shortstop/second baseman Darwin Barney and corner infielder Andy Burns. Given the defensive capabilities of Thole, Carrera and Barney, it would seem that Paredes’ best fit on the roster would be to supplant Burns for the fourth bench spot.
Paredes’s best fit on the roster might be as Bautista’s bodyguard. 🙂
He’ll take his spot on the active roster when Bautista is placed on the concussion DL later today.
How did the Orioles come to the conclusion Flaherty and Janish were more valuable than Paredes? Maybe I’m just not understanding how the rosters work in majors? Does Flaherty and Janish have some hidden value?
Yes. They can play defense competently. Paredes is a DH-quality defensive player at all positions, and the O’s already have a couple of DHs.
The O’s are built to horde groundball pitchers and quality defensive players to offset their lack of veteran Ace starting pitching and HR-friendly park. Their defense carries 4 current and former gold gloves, and tout a quality defense. So, Showalter probably values defensive players more than usual.
It also helps that their regular lineup already has a lot of power in Manny, Adam Jones, Chris Davis, and Trumbo.
It also doesn’t help Paredes that the league figured out that he will swing at EVERY SINGLE INSIDE CURVEBALL thrown his way, leading to the second half numbers he posted. Plus, his defense < Pearce at 2B.
I thin showalter hated this guy.so he kept janish
Paul Janish > Jimmy Paredes