Blue Jays righty Mat Latos has been told he won’t make the team, and Latos must now decide whether to accept a Triple-A assignment from the club or become a free agent, according to Jays radio broadcaster Mike Wilner (Twitter links). In addition, another Jays righty, Bo Schultz, is seeing a physician in New York and is likely to require elbow surgery.
The Jays signed Latos to a minor-league deal near the beginning of camp, and he struggled in 14 2/3 innings with the club, allowing eight walks and five home runs. The former Padres and Reds standout is still only 29 but has fallen on hard times in recent seasons, posting a 4.89 ERA and a mediocre 5.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 over 70 innings with the White Sox and Nationals last year, also struggling with his velocity. He seemed highly unlikely to crack the Jays’ rotation (which currently consists of Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ, Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman and Francisco Liriano) without an injury or two.
The 31-year-old Schultz bounced back and forth between Toronto and Triple-A Buffalo last season, posting a 5.51 ERA, 5.5 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in 16 1/3 innings at the big-league level. He was competing for a spot in the Blue Jays’ bullpen. He is out of options, although, of course, if he’s facing elbow surgery, both he and the Blue Jays will have greater concerns for his future than his immediate roster status.
Maybe the Pirates should take a chance on him, they’ve had some success in turning pitchers around and reinvigorating their careers. Probably would have to be a minor league deal but what’s Latos have to lose?
Latos will receive a 100K$ retention bonus and a June 1st opt out date if he accepts TOR AAA assignment.
Pirates would have almost zero motivation to sign him even to a minors deal UNLESS we know in the next day or two one or more of their depth options is going to have Tommy John or a trade or something along those lines.. They have plenty of depth options already.
but yeah sure…. minors contract sure why not. When Latos was doing well he was doing rather well. worst case he opts out in a couple months and hits the FA market.. best case Ray’s pixie dust brings his arm back to life and he ends up a mid rotation guy.
I doubt it given that his wife started a physical altercation with a fan in one of the PNC Park bars during the Reds/Pirates wild card game a few years back then had choice words about Pittsburgh, its fans and police. Latos hasn’t pitched well in awhile, has a toxic clubhouse presence and brings along along baggage.
Totally agree with your observation. And the Pirates have better options both on the major league team and in AAA.
DaveP: Sounds like you would fire WSU’s Gregg Marshall for those reasons.
Possible… interesting idea, you guys have the best pitching coach in baseball so he could still be valuable if he changed some things up mentally
I’ve forgotten. Did Latos have some serious injuries he never really bounced back from or did he just flame out? I’m not taking a dig at the guy, I just honestly don’t remember.
He got beat up on his last start with the reds
When he got to Miami… there were issues with him and the ownership and he was never the same
Left knee surgery in 2014, never bounced back
Before that, once he got to Miami he was never the same
So it sounds like a combination of a bad injury and possibly a staff that couldn’t help. Too bad, I thought a few years ago when the Reds traded for him that he’d change the organization.
Re Latos… couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
LMAO
Bye Cat Latos
Now is Mat’s chance to go to the newspaper and complain how much he dislikes the Blue Jays. Why left a bridge un-burned?
You’re thinking of Kolten Wong.
No kidding!
This might be cold, but it’s almost a good thing Schultz needs surgery. He likely would’ve been lost on waivers or got lit up in the majors. You don’t just want to give away guys like him with big fastballs just in case he could figure things out.
Might be the end of the line for Latos
Member when Mat Latos was good,
I memby
Pepperidge farm remembers
Orioles should sign him for depth, probably better than Wade Miley
anybody would be better than wade miley
I seen that Mike Wilner tweeted that he’s accepting starting the season in buffalo.
Sounds like someone may need to enroll into the Ed Harris school of pitching performance….bardol anyone???