Blue Jays Designate Daniel Vogelbach For Project

The Blue Jays introduced that they’ve recalled infielder/outfielder Addison Barger, whereas designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach has been designated for project in a corresponding transfer. The membership’s 40-man roster drops to 38.

For a second consecutive Friday, the Jays have minimize a hitter struggling within the majors and changed him with one hitting properly in Triple-A as they appear to generate some extra offense. Infielder/outfielder Cavan Biggio was minimize from the roster one week in the past, finally getting traded to the Dodgers, with Spencer Horwitz taking his spot. This time, Vogelbach makes manner for Barger.

Vogelbach, 31, is a reasonably restricted participant as he is without doubt one of the slowest within the league and usually isn’t trusted defensively. He has appeared in 154 video games at first base however hasn’t performed the sphere since 2022 and it was solely 5 innings that yr. However he has tantalized golf equipment together with his energy from the left aspect and eager eye on the plate.

In 1,957 profession plate appearances up to now, he has drawn walks in 15.1% of them. For reference, league common is often round 8% or 9% and is at 8.3% this yr. He has additionally hit 81 dwelling runs, with a 30-homer season with the Brewers in 2019, although that was the “juiced ball” season. He additionally obtained to double-digit dwelling run tallies in 2022 and 2023 with far fewer plate appearances.

Sadly, the outcomes haven’t been there this yr. Vogelbach signed a minor league cope with the Jays within the winter and made the Opening Day roster, however has acquired simply 79 plate appearances in over two months on the roster. He was nonetheless drawing walks at a good 11.4% price however had only one dwelling run, resulting in a line of .186/.278/.300. His exit velocity and arduous hit charges had been nonetheless fairly robust however he was hitting the ball on the bottom at a 49.1% clip, a profession excessive aside from his eight-game rookie season.

Like with Biggio, the Jays have determined change was wanted. Biggio was hitting simply .202/.331/.289 when he was nudged off the roster. Horwitz was slashing .335/.456/.514 in Triple-A and has a line of .389/.476/.444 by means of 5 video games since being recalled.

Barger was recalled for 5 video games earlier this yr and at present has a dismal line of .056/.056/.056, however he’s hitting .256/.380/.467 in Triple-A. He has drawn walks 15.2% of the time for the Bisons and in addition has eight dwelling runs, maybe giving the Jays some hope he can produce the form of offense they had been hoping to get from Vogelbach.

Even when he can’t fairly produce these sorts of outcomes towards massive league pitchers, he can present extra to the Jays in different aspects of the sport. Throughout his transient time up with the membership, his dash velocity was ranked within the sixtieth percentile, in comparison with Vogelbach being within the 2nd percentile. Barger has additionally performed shortstop and the 4 nook positions for Buffalo this yr, giving supervisor John Schneider way more choices for getting him into the lineup.

Vogelbach and Joey Votto had been in competitors for a job this spring, as each had been on minor league offers and trying to function a lefty bench bat/designated hitter. Votto obtained damage throughout the spring whereas Vogelbach hit three dwelling runs in spring contests, which primarily made the choice for the Jays. Now that Vogelbach is off the roster, that would open a path for Votto, however not within the rapid future. After rolling his ankle on an errant bat throughout the spring after one plate look, he’s nonetheless not 100%. Schneider advised reporters this week that Votto is getting near taking part in in video games, as relayed by Keegan Matheson on X. However after lacking a lot time, he’ll successfully need to restart spring coaching from scratch and can possible want a couple of weeks to get into kind.

The Jays will now have one week to commerce Vogelbach or cross him by means of waivers. There’ll possible be groups prepared to take an opportunity on his bat, however they’ll in all probability wait till Vogelbach clears waivers. He’s making a wage of $2MM this yr however has greater than sufficient service time to reject an outright project whereas conserving that cash. Based mostly on his poor outcomes this yr, he’ll in all probability wind up on the open market and be free to signal with any membership. If he will get a roster spot someplace, that membership would solely need to pay him the prorated league minimal, with that quantity subtracted from what the Jays owe him.