Source: The Toronto Blue Jays signed left-hander Jaime Garcia to a one-year, $8-million deal on Thursday.
The contract includes a club option for the 2019 season.
Garcia split last season with the Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees, tallying a 4.41 ERA and 4.25 FIP across 27 starts and 157 innings.
The 31-year-old figures to slot into the No. 5 spot in the Blue Jays rotation, with Joe Biagini’s role to begin the season now uncertain — he could be moved to the bullpen or provide starting pitching depth at triple-A.
Garcia, a veteran of nine big league seasons, is a ground ball specialist. His 54.8 per cent ground ball rate ranked fifth among all MLB starters last season (by comparison, Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman was No. 1 with a 62.1 per cent rate).
If you don’t know the phrase “poo-slinger”, it’s used to describe a pitcher who doesn’t throw very hard, grinds out hitters, and uses location and movement to stay away from the barrel of the bat.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Blue Jays found their 5th starter and he slings poo on a regular basis.
The good news is, at least Joe Biagini won’t be in limbo anymore on where he’s headed, because barring any trades, this deal should be a telltale sign that Big Joe is heading to the bullpen to eat up those innings that Leone was covering last year. Joe was good in the ‘pen, so let’s hope he can get back to form for 2018.
But man, doesn’t this team seem fragile. Tulo is battling heel issues, Stroman battling the Blue Jays front office, and JD is battling reporters about asking prices.
By the way, it’s fucking day two of Spring Training. Looks like we are in for a treat this year.
Donkey Cuts will be flying soon, stay tuned.
Cheersin’ Yuh.
Meet the newest Jay:
Shug McSween
Shug McSween is a veteran here at DeanBlundell.com and has been contributing since day one. A sports nut with a sophisticated opinion, expect McSween to cover any and everything he's passionate about. When he's not busy writing and editing for our crew, McSween likes to get away via fairways and greens. He also contributes to The Hockey Writers, NHLTradeRumors.me and BballRumors.com