Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins said Thursday the team wants to "learn more and see more" before locking Kikuchi into the rotation for 2023, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
Kikuchi joined Toronto on a three-year, $36 million deal in March and endured a rough first season with the team, as he finished with a 5.19 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 124:58 K:BB across 100.2 innings. He started in 20 of 32 appearances but also struggled in his 12 relief outings. The Blue Jays may need to add a couple starters in free agency for Kikuchi to comfortably be kept out of the rotation in 2023 since Hyun Jin Ryu (elbow) won't be available until the second half of the season, at least.
Van Eyk (elbow) is tracking toward being a full participant for the Blue Jays during spring training, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
The 24-year-old right-hander is nearing the finish line in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in September 2021. Van Eyk will likely continue to ramp up the intensity of his throwing sessions this winter before reporting to the Blue Jays' spring camp in Florida in February. Expect the 2020 second-round pick to open the 2023 season at Double-A New Hampshire or High-A Vancouver.
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Blue Jays' Joey Murray: On mend from Tommy John
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Murray underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in May, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
The 26-year-old Murray was once seen as a promising pitching prospect in the Toronto organization, but his outlook has dimmed in light of him struggling to stay on the field over the past three seasons. He's logged just 21.1 total innings in affiliated ball since the 2022 campaign and is now on track to miss at least the first half of the 2023 season while recovering from surgery.
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Blue Jays' Trent Palmer: On mend from Tommy John
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Palmer underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in August, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
Mitchell's report helps explain why Palmer didn't make any appearances for Double-A New Hampshire after July 1. Prior to having the elbow procedure, the 23-year-old posted a 3.69 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 33:15 K:BB in 31.2 innings in seven starts for New Hampshire following his late-May promotion from High-A Vancouver. Murray will likely miss the entire 2023 season while rehabbing and recovering from surgery.
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Blue Jays' Vinny Capra: Re-ups with Toronto
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Capra re-signed Sunday with the Blue Jays on a minor-league contract, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Non-tendered by Toronto just a few days ago, Capra will rejoin the Blue Jays, albeit no longer as a member of the 40-man roster. His minor-league deal presumably includes an invitation to big-league spring training, where he'll be vying for a reserve spot in an outfield that no longer includes Teoscar Hernandez, Raimel Tapia or Bradley Zimmer. Capra appeared in eight games for the big club in 2022 but otherwise spent the majority of the campaign at Triple-A Buffalo, where he produced a .789 OPS over 225 plate appearances.
Macko (undisclosed) was a part of the package that the Mariners traded to the Blue Jays in return for Teoscar Hernandez on Wednesday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Macko will make his way to Toronto after spending the first three years of his career with the Mariners' organization following his selection in the seventh round of the 2019 Draft. The left-hander made eight starts with High-A Everett, compiling a 3.99 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 60 strikeouts over 38.1 innings. Macko is currently dealing with an undisclosed injury, but when healthy, he'll provide the Blue Jays with another potential long-term option in their rotation.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Sent to Toronto
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The Blue Jays acquired Swanson and left-hander Adam Macko from the Mariners on Wednesday in exchange for outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Swanson quietly emerged as one of the majors' top setup men in 2022, finishing with a 1.68 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 70:10 K:BB across 53.2 innings for Seattle while nabbing three wins, three saves and 14 holds. In Toronto, Swanson will face a more blocked path to the ninth-inning role with incumbent closer Jordan Romano coming off his first All-Star campaign. Swanson should at least remain a solid late-round target in deeper mixed and AL-only leagues for fantasy managers looking for stability in the ratio categories.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Joins 40-man roster
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Horwitz (undisclosed) was added to the Blue Jays' 40-man roster Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca report.
Horwitz split 2022 between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, and he posted an .843 OPS between the two levels. He finished the season on the injured list at Buffalo with an unspecified issue.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Shielded from Rule 5 draft
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Barger was added to the Blue Jays' 40-man roster Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Barger vaulted up Toronto's prospect list in 2022 and has now been protected from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. The 23-year-old began last season with High-A Vancouver and worked his way up to Triple-A Buffalo by mid-September. He went 10-for-32 with two home runs during his brief stint at Triple-A and had a .933 OPS for the season.
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Blue Jays' Yosver Zulueta: Added to 40-man roster
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Zulueta was added to Toronto's 40-man roster Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays elected to protect Zulueta from the upcoming Rule 5 draft since he's one of the organization's top pitching prospects. The 24-year-old opened the 2022 campaign at Single-A Dunedin but was able to move his way up to Triple-A Buffalo by the end of the season. Overall he had a 3.72 ERA with 84 strikeouts across 55.2 frames.
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Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Shielded from Rule 5 draft
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Martinez was added to the Blue Jays' 40-man roster Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Martinez is one of Toronto's top prospects, so it's not a surprise the organization opted to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. The young third baseman played in 118 games for Double-A New Hampshire last season and had a .203/.286/.446 slash line with 30 home runs, 76 RBI and six stolen bases.
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Blue Jays' Bradley Zimmer: Dumped from 40-man roster
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Zimmer was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Zimmer was claimed off waivers by Toronto in August but won't stick on the 40-man roster through the offseason. He appeared in 109 games between the Phillies and Blue Jays in 2022 and posted a .435 OPS.
