Blue Jays call up 9 players

[Angrioter]

Daniel Norris

 

Position: LHP | Age: 21 | Acquired: 2nd round of 2011 draft

2014 stats: 2.53 ERA with 163 strikeouts in 124.2 innings at Dunedin, New Hampshire, Buffalo

Year in Review: Norris enjoyed a breakout season that saw him climb from Class A Dunedin to MLB in a matter of months. The left-hander’s considered one of Toronto’s top prospects and a potential MLB starter.

What he offers in 2014: Dynamic lefty arm out of the bullpen.

Norris not about the money | Bright future for Norris, Pompey | Norris never satisfied

 

Dalton Pompey

 

Position: OF | Age: 21 | Acquired: 16th round of 2010 draft

2014 stats: .317/.392/.469 batting line with 22 doubles, 43 stolen bases at Dunedin, New Hampshire, Buffalo

Year in Review: Along with Norris, the Mississauga, Ont., native climbed from Class A all the way to Toronto in just one season. The switch-hitter offers some power with nine home runs and nine triples.

What he offers in 2014: Speed and hitting ability off the bench.

 

Kendall Graveman

 

Position: RHP | Age: 23 | Acquired: 8th round of 2013 draft

2014 stats: 1.83 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 167.1 innings at Lansing, Dunedin, New Hampshire, Buffalo

Year in Review: Graveman showed impressive command across four minor league levels this year, allowing just 31 walks in 27 starts. The Mississippi State University product reached the big leagues just 15 months after being drafted.

What he offers in 2014: Capable bullpen innings.

 

Anthony Gose

Position: OF | Age: 24 | Acquired: From Astros in 2010 trade

2014 stats: .234/.333/.291 batting line with 14 stolen bases in 69 games with Blue Jays; .244/.305/.346 batting line with 21 stolen bases in 51 games with Bisons

Year in Review: Gose showed improved on-base skills in 2014, drawing 22 walks against big league pitching. He’s a skilled defender who offers limited power at the plate.

What he offers in 2014: Speed and defence off the bench.

 

Ryan Goins

 

Position: 2B | Age: 26 | Acquired: 4th round of 2009 draft

2014 stats: .197/.222/.262 batting line in 43 games with Blue Jays; .284/.337/.353 batting line in 97 games with Bisons

Year in Review: Goins hasn’t hit big league pitching, and some doubt he ever will. But he’s a gifted defender capable of making a difference with the glove.

What he offers in 2014: Late-game defence off the bench.

 

Sean Nolin

 

Position: LHP | Age: 24 | Acquired: 6th round of 2010 draft

2014 stats: 3.50 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 87.1 innings at Buffalo

Year in Review: Nolin continued to show that he can get results against minor league bats. He missed time with a left groin strain, but his numbers were good when healthy so he gets the chance to redeem himself after last year’s disastrous debut.

What he offers in 2014: Another lefty out of the bullpen.

Brandon Morrow

 

Position: RHP | Age: 30 | Acquired: From Mariners in 2009 trade

2014 stats: 5.93 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 27.1 innings for Blue Jays

Year in Review: Morrow struggled in the Blue Jays’ rotation before being placed on the disabled list with a finger tendon injury that sidelined him for months. Now on the brink of free agency, he’ll pitch out of the bullpen.

What he offers in 2014: Power right-handed relief.

 

Dan Johnson

 

Position: 1B | Age: 35 | Acquired: Minor league free agent, November, 2013.

2014 stats: .232/.381/.434 batting line with 18 home runs at Buffalo

Year in Review: Johnson mashed at triple-A before earning a promotion to Toronto. He spent much of August recovering from a hamstring strain at triple-A.

What he offers in 2014: A lefty bat off the bench.

 

George Kottaras

 

Position: C | Age: 31 | Acquired: Minor league free agent, August, 2014.

2014 stats: .269/.375/.615 batting line with three home runs in 14 MLB games

Year in Review: Kottaras has had a busy year that’s included stops with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals and Blue Jays. The Scarborough, Ont., native flashed some power with the Indians earlier this season.

What he offers in 2014: Insurance as a third catcher.

 

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/guide-to-blue-jays-nine-september-call-ups/

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Kottaras should be our starter.

[Angrioter]

Kottaras should be our starter.

 

Yep. He's our own Jaso.

[G-Snarls]

Bench looks good

 

But it's the BP that really needed help and these are all wildcards

[G-Snarls]

[eastcoastjaysfan]

I'm actually surprised that Nolin got called up. Seemed like the FO legitmately made up their minds about him based on that 1 inning of work last year.

[Chappy]

Bench looks good

 

But it's the BP that really needed help and these are all wildcards

 

Wild cards, sure, but Nolin and Norris could end up being solid RP for Sept. In either case, it doesn't really matter anyways. Jays are out of it.

[RealAccountant]

Wild cards, sure, but Nolin and Norris could end up being solid RP for Sept. In either case, it doesn't really matter anyways. Jays are out of it.

 

They should just release Rasmus. He shouldn't get a single mlb at bat

[Angrioter]

Morrow?

[Angrioter]

Morrow?

[43211234]

Can someone post Blue Jays related stuff from this if there is any?

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/post?id=2798&ex_cid=InsiderTwitter_Lawnotablecallups

[43211234]

Nice to see Law say Pompey is plus in CF

[burlingtonbandit]

Rather see Rasmus used as a PH and have a Gose/Pillar platoon in CF for the rest of the year. That probably makes the Blue Jays better for the rest of the season anyways.

[G-Snarls]

Rather see Rasmus used as a PH and have a Gose/Pillar platoon in CF for the rest of the year. That probably makes the Blue Jays better for the rest of the season anyways.

 

Sadly yes

 

It will also help my mental state - watching Colby bat this season has been absolutely painful

 

(I acknowledge that Gose hasn't hit well either but he does everything else better than Colby)

[JaysFan4Ever]

I wasn't expecting this many guys called up. I guess the Jays want to reward some of these guys and see what in house options they have heading into the off season. Should be exciting to watch some of them.

[JaysFan4Ever]

Rather see Rasmus used as a PH and have a Gose/Pillar platoon in CF for the rest of the year. That probably makes the Blue Jays better for the rest of the season anyways.

 

Sadly yes

 

It will also help my mental state - watching Colby bat this season has been absolutely painful

 

(I acknowledge that Gose hasn't hit well either but he does everything else better than Colby)

 

I'm with both of you there. COlby has fallen on his face especially towards the end of the year. At the very least you'd think he'd work on his swing/approach since he'll be a FA.

 

It'll give the Jays a chance to see if Gose/Pillar can run away with the job or at least gauge how it might work out with a platoon or if they need to bring someone else in. I'm still hoping they resign Melky and if they have to go with a platoon of those two. The offense might not be there especially with the power but seeing Pillar the second time this year seems like he's on a mission with some of his plays. Gose covers a lot of ground and at least hasn't made some of the bone headed plays Colby has defensively. If the two of them can cover the ground and play solid defense we might be able to tread water with their offense or at least they might be options for a platoon or back up to another player brought in.

[JaysFan4Ever]

Nice to see Law say Pompey is plus in CF

 

That must means he's even better than some thought?

[G-Snarls]

AA is going to be on Prime Time Sports at 5:15 ET

[closetjaysfan]

I might be missing something here, but I cant see what possible benefit there is to calling up/playing Morrow. I cant see him getting picked up on the option and I doubt he resigns. He isn't being showcased... so what is the point?

[burlingtonbandit]

I might be missing something here, but I cant see what possible benefit there is to calling up/playing Morrow. I cant see him getting picked up on the option and I doubt he resigns. He isn't being showcased... so what is the point?

 

That he pitches well to help the team win games?

[Pulk_Pull]

I like the call-ups but my god is it hard to get excited at all these days. Morrow coming back in about 2 months too late...

[Jimcanuck]

I might be missing something here, but I cant see what possible benefit there is to calling up/playing Morrow. I cant see him getting picked up on the option and I doubt he resigns. He isn't being showcased... so what is the point?

 

if he pitches well you pick up the option

[closetjaysfan]

if he pitches well you pick up the option

 

Well frankly that is what scares me. 10 million for less than 1 month of work out of the bullpen after being hurt since early May?

[G-Snarls]

[John_Havok]

I might be missing something here, but I cant see what possible benefit there is to calling up/playing Morrow. I cant see him getting picked up on the option and I doubt he resigns. He isn't being showcased... so what is the point?

 

They want him to throw and there's no minor league team's left to rehab with unless you put him in the playoffs in Vancouver or Dunedin.

[John_Havok]

When do we get to see Pompey in the lineup!!??

 

Not to be too obvious, but I'm guessing you'll see him in the lineup when he starts a game

[John_Havok]

if he pitches well you pick up the option

 

I dunno, I think the option being picked up ship has sailed. Maybe you non-tender him and try to bring him back cheaper, but he's basically lost his rotation spot and is way too expensive to keep round as a reliever.

[JaysFan4Ever]

Did AA give any reason why guys like Drabek and/or Delabar weren't called up?

[burlingtonbandit]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/called-up-pederson-franco-pompey-norris-finnegan/ Good article that has write ups on Pompey and Norris. Mcdaniel seems to be a lot higher on Norris than Pompey. He gave Pompey's upside a .265/.345/.400 FWIW.

[burlingtonbandit]

I will take that with his speed and defense.

 

As would I but he had that listed as his upside. Realistically he puts up something like .245/.320/.375. Even that with really good defence and base running is a good MLB player.