The Blue Jays introduced this afternoon that they’ve claimed right-hander Dillon Tate off waivers from the Orioles and optioned him to Triple-A. Proper-hander Paolo Espino was designated for task to make room for Tate on the 40-man roster.
Tate, 30, was taken by the Rangers because the fourth total decide within the 2015 draft and was part of two blockbuster trades earlier than he made his MLB debut. First, he was swapped from Texas to the Bronx within the deal that made Carlos Beltran a Ranger in 2016, after which two years later he was dealt from the Yankees to the Orioles on the 2018 commerce deadline as a part of the bundle that despatched Zack Britton to New York. As soon as he joined his third group, Tate made his huge league debut in pretty quick order when he debuted with Baltimore through the 2019 season. That first season within the majors didn’t go particularly nicely, as he pitched to a lackluster 6.43 ERA in 21 innings of labor.
After struggling to start out his huge league profession, Tate managed to settle in over the subsequent few years to grow to be a dependable member of the membership’s bullpen. From 2020 to 2022, the right-hander pitched to a strong 3.65 ERA with a 3.88 FIP in 141 appearances, turning into a secure center reduction choice for Baltimore. That features a notably sturdy efficiency through the 2022 season, when the Orioles surged again over .500 for the primary time because the 2016 season. That yr, Tate was glorious with a 3.05 ERA and three.28 FIP in 73 2/3 innings of labor. Whereas he struck out simply 20.5% of opponents that yr, he made up for that with a stroll price of simply 5.5% and an elite 57.4% groundball price.
Sadly, issues went off the rails for Tate following that glorious 2022 season. Elbow and forearm points worn out the right-hander’s 2023 season in its entirety, and when he returned earlier this yr he didn’t seem like the identical pitcher he was in 2022. In 33 1/3 innings with the large league membership this yr, Tate struggled to a 4.59 ERA and noticed his strikeout price drop to only 15.5% whereas his groundball price dropped to a diminished (however nonetheless glorious) 50.9% determine. These lackluster outcomes and shaky peripherals had been sufficient to persuade the membership to designate Tate for task just some days in the past, and now he’ll look to get again on monitor with the Orioles’ division rival Blue Jays. If Tate’s time in Toronto goes nicely, they’ll have the chance to retain the right-hander for the 2025 season by way of arbitration.
As for Espino, the 37-year-old righty has spent the 2024 season with the Blue Jays after signing a minor league take care of the membership again in December. He’s pitched 8 2/3 innings for the membership to brutal outcomes with an 8.31 ERA and 9.06 FIP throughout three appearances, and his 5.18 ERA in 17 begins on the Triple-A stage hasn’t been significantly better. The veteran hurler sports activities a 5.12 ERA and 5.06 FIP in 265 2/3 profession innings of labor unfold throughout elements of six seasons since he made his huge league debut again in 2017, and figures to return to Triple-A with Toronto to proceed consuming innings within the probably occasion that he clears waivers.
