The Blue Jays have designated third baseman Matt Dominguez for assignment in order to clear a spot on the roster for left-hander Matt Dermody, the team announced this afternoon. Dermody’s agency, KVA Sports, first tweeted word of his promotion yesterday.
Dominguez, now 27 years of age, once looked like a potential everyday third baseman for the Astros when he showed significant pop and quality defense at third base from 2012-13, but he’s always struggled with on-base percentage and hasn’t performed well in the Majors or minors over the past three seasons. Dominguez hit just .215/.256/.330 in an everyday role with the 2014 Astros and didn’t play in the Majors last season, spending most of the year with Milwaukee’s Triple-A affiliate. He received 12 plate appearances with Toronto this season but has again spent much of the year in Triple-A, where he’s batted .272/.317/.427 with 18 home runs.
As for Dermody, the 26-year-old forced his way into the Jays’ plans this season with a strong showing across three minor league levels. Opening the season as a 25-year-old at Class-A Advanced, he’d certainly have been considered a long shot to make his way onto the big league scene, but Dermody has posted a 1.82 ERA and a 47-to-8 K/BB ratio in 54 1/3 innings this season. He’s held both lefties and righties to a sub-.290 OBP, though his strong work against lefties looks considerably more sustainable, as he’s whiffed 34 percent of them (13 percent strikeout rate against righties). Pitching for a team that has had difficulty finding consistent left-handed relief work, Dermody could conceivably find himself on the postseason roster, as Brett Cecil is currently the only other lefty reliever in manager John Gibbons’ bullpen.
As a reminder, readers can head over to Roster Resource for a full list of transactions thus far since Sept. 1 roster expansion.
Matt Domniguez = consensus top 100 prospect.
This is why everyone needs to relax a little in how they value untested players.
Dominguez is destined to be a star in Japan or Korea. I hope he does because no one wants to see someone with potential flop. Wish him a good landing wherever he goes.
I did not appear to me that Matt was struggling in AAA for the Bisons. He has lead the Bison’s in HR (18) , RBI (67) and is second in runs. In 2015 was given the the AAA Gold Glove for his work at 3rd. base.
Your statement the Dominguez…”hasn’t performed well in the Majors or minors over the past three seasons” is a B.S. Steve!
Good Luck Matt
What else can you call a power hitter putting up a .744 OPS in AAA as a 26-year-old? Is that performing well in your estimation?
I totally agree with you Blue Bison. He has excellent power and is a plus fielder with a plus arm at third. Also, No one wants to be buried behind Josh Donaldson. Mark it down: Matt will end up being a starting third baseman in MLB again; he’ll hit 20 HR’s in the bigs again and the naysayers will be eating crow. Hide and watch.
If your only angle is that he didn’t perform this year because he was stuck behind Josh Donaldson (as if being stuck behind superstars prevents others from performing), how does that explain three pedestrian years in the PCL, which is notoriously hitter-friendly, before coming to Toronto? He hasn’t even put up better than a .750 OPS in any season since he was an 18-year-old in A-ball.
Could he could hit 20 HR’s in the majors again if he got 550 AB’s, probably, but that’s not the question, the question is could he be a productive player? 20 HR’s and .150 ISO’s aren’t enough when your OBP is below .300.
I agree. He’s probably a better defender than Donaldson, but it’s hard to have a backup infielder that only plays 3B/1B rate he than 2B, SS, 3B like a Ryan Goins or Darwin Barney. Versatility is key
Rather than*
Along with Pedro Ciriaco, Matt Dominguez was one of the players I once predicted would be a star someday. Although my opinion doesn’t matter, I have a decent track record of my predictions. This may be a good thing. Dave Ortiz (another prediction) was released by the Twins before he found fame as a BoSox. I think Dominguez just needs to find the right team, Perhaps even the Japanese League is where he can sort himself out.
My predictions aren’t always on target. Other failed predictions were Angel’s 1B heir to Rod Carew, Daryl Sconiers, Padres Stan Jefferson, Giants C Steve Decker, Pirates 3B Rob Mackowiak
Ortiz always had good plate discipline though, which Dominguez does not, and was putting up good slash lines even as a Twin. He hadn’t broken out yet, but he was far more productive offensively than Dominguez has ever shown to be capable of, even in the minors.