March 14: The A’s announced today that they’ve released Labourt. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle spoke to someone who watched a bullpen session Labourt threw with the A’s and said the lefty was “all over the place” in an unimpressive showing.
March 12: The Athletics announced on Monday that they’ve designated left-hander Jairo Labourt for assignment in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Jonathan Lucroy, whose one-year deal with Oakland has now been formally announced. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks for Labourt, who gone from the Tigers to the Reds to the A’s via the waiver wire and could now very well find himself on the move once again.
The 24-year-old Labourt made his big league debut with Detroit last season, appearing in six games and allowing three runs with four strikeouts against seven walks in six innings. Initially acquired from the Blue Jays in the trade that sent David Price to Toronto, Labourt posted excellent numbers in Class-A Advanced and in Double-A last season before stumbling when he reached Triple-A. He tossed 22 innings with the Tigers’ Toledo affiliate, and while his 2.45 ERA was strong he also issued 23 walks in those 22 frames.
Control has long been an issue for Labourt, who has averaged 5.1 walks per nine innings pitched over the course of seven minor league seasons. But, he’s a fairly hard-throwing southpaw with a fastball sitting around 93 mph who averaged a career-best 10.7 K/9 in the minors this past season. He worked exclusively out of the bullpen in 2017, but he has 87 professional starts under his belt and could be viewed by some clubs as a depth piece for either the ’pen or rotation. He still has a minor league option remaining, too, so any club that picks him up would be able to send him to Triple-A without first exposing him to the waiver wire.
Phillies7459
What is it about this guy that’s keeping him off rosters? He’s a young lefty with good qualities I feel like there are plenty other DFA candidates.
casualatlfan
It’s mainly that he has a very high walk rate due to control problems, and he doesn’t through quite fast enough or miss enough bats to compensate. Probably will get claimed by someone since he has an option remaining, but not expecting too much out of him with a new team unless they find a way to significantly improve his control.
stymeedone
It doesnt matter how fast you throw ball four. Its also easy to miss bats when you dont throw it over the plate. Please name me a few pitcher prospects that walked more than a batter an inning in AAA and then were productive in the majors. He might be interesting, but there are 40 players more interesting on most teams.
oaksbossko
Randy Johnson had huge problem with walks in his minor league career, which is why the expos dropped him but look what happened after that
Michael Chaney
He’s more of the exception than the rule though. Tom Brady was a 6th rounder and everyone still seems to think you can get a franchise QB late in the draft.
stymeedone
They traded him. They didnt drop him. He also didnt walk 9+ per 9 in AAA.
davidcoonce74
Bob Feller had horrible control and is now in the Hall of Fame. But, of course, that was a very long time ago.
justin-turner overdrive
He’s really bad at pitching?
rycm131
Noooooooooooo!
strostro
I predict the Twins will claim him. They have an open 40 man spot, and could use depth
twinsfan77
I was thinking the same thing. Any time you can get a lefty who can strike people out, and is only 24 years old, go for it.
justin-turner overdrive
He can’t strike anyone out, that’s why the A’s just cut him. “All over the place” doesn’t say “strike people out” to me.
cardinalfan3
10.7 K/9 in 2017 says different.
defan63
For all the Tiger bashing when they dumped this guy here’s another team cutting ties …
Hot Corner
Another day, another Jairo Labourt story. Someone just give this poor kid a chance already.
oaksbossko
Why him and not Alcantara??
oldleftylong
MLB’s 41st man.
Phillies2017
Now that he’s a free agent, I’ll be interested to see if he’s signed as Double or Triple A depth.
I’d imagine there’s some team out there willing to take a shot.
rusty2489
sounds like a job for Ray Searage and Pirates.
justin-turner overdrive
Yeah, this
bastros88
until they realize he can’t throw strikes
sufferforsnakes
That was quick……again.
bigcubsfan
Wow. I think Chubs should pick him up. He has the potential to be better than Aroldis Chapman.
oldleftylong
Huh?
Phillies2017
Don’t indulge him, just ignore him and maybe one day, if we’re lucky, he’ll go away.
stymeedone
His fastball sits at 93, not 103.
davidkaner
This is why Maddox was such a master! Threw like 90 mph but could place the ball anywhere he wanted at anytime. It’s all about command and movement.
bigcubsfan
I can command and move a 35 mph fastball very well. “It is all about command and movement” Give the GMs my phone number!!!