TODAY: McGuire and Valera have both cleared DFA waivers and been outrighted to the Blue Jays’ alternate training site, as per a team announcement.
APRIL 1: The Blue Jays announced Thursday morning that catcher Reese McGuire and infielder Breyvic Valera have been designated for assignment. Their roster spots will go to infielder Joe Panik and lefty Tim Mayza, whose contracts have formally been selected.
McGuire, 26, was the 14th overall pick by the Pirates back in 2013 and came to the Jays by way of the 2016 Francisco Liriano trade. The longtime top prospect hit well in 2018-19 (.297/.343/.539, seven homers in 138 plate appearances) before his bat fell off a cliff in 2020 (.073/.073/.146 in 45 plate appearances). That downturn in production, a bizarre and troubling Feb. 2020 arrest, and the breakout of fellow catcher Alejandro Kirk all combined to spell the end of McGuire’s days on Toronto’s 40-man roster.
Valera, meanwhile, has bounced around the league via the waiver wire for the past couple seasons. The Jays have claimed the versatile switch-hitter twice in that time, but he’s still only appeared in five games with the club. The 29-year-old Valera is a career .223/.294/.298 hitter in a small sample of 138 plate appearances, but he carries a much more appealing .302/.374/.442 line through 1550 plate appearances at the Triple-A level.
The Jays told Panik that he’d made the roster last week, marking the second straight season that he’s cracked their big league club after inking a minor league pact in the offseason. Mayza, 29, pitched 104 innings with the Jays from 2017-19 but missed the 2020 season due to Tommy John surgery that he underwent in Sept. 2019. He’s healthy now and rattled off 6 2/3 shutout innings during Spring Training, yielding just one hit and two walks with six punchouts along the way.
Glad to see Valera off the roster. Hopefully they can still work out a deal with McGuire to extract a little bit of value out of him, but I’m just happy to see Kirk make the team.
@jdgoat- I really don’t see the value of Reese McGuire after what he’s done. It’s not impressive really. Anybody could do that.
@Yank
He’s a 26 year old former reasonably well regarded catcher who plays solid D. He’s not worth much but some catching needy rebuilding squad will probably take a flier. D’backs love carrying 3 catchers. Maybe that’ll be the team.
I’d think McGuire’s preferred destination would be the Yank-ees behind Dirty Sanchez.
DBacks will bring Varsho back up at some point this year, making him the CF/3rd catcher option. He won’t be a major league catcher, but he’ll work as an outfielder and 3rd option.
Lot of worse options out there for a 2nd catcher.
He’s getting claimed for sure, it’s just a question of how many teams want him. He’s not worth much, but if a team has something like eighth waiver priority, they will have to give up a lotto pick for him in order to get him.
Apparently not.
“I really don’t see the value of Reese McGuire after what he’s done. It’s not impressive really. Anybody could do that.”
Kellen Winslow Jr. agrees with this assessment.
He’s also….. got some “issues” that he needs to work out. Kick him off! Give someone else a shot that’s not a p*rvert
As a lefty swinging catcher you has defensive chops he has some value. Probably ends up being a ptbnl or cash going to the jays. I believe his “incident” messed him up mentally last season and while he has never had an amazing bat hea much better thwn last season. That being said if he played average last season or teams agree with me on why his prior seasons numbers were so bad, he prob gets a top 25-30 organization prospect
I also wonder if McGuire + Rowdey Tellez gets something from the bucos. Or maybe a team take him that plans on trading a catcher at the deadline, that way they get a long look at him and have a decent catcher the fill in after said trade
McGuire will go somewhere for a PTBNL lotto ticket.
McGuire had little worth either, summed up the 2013 draft quite nicely. Pundits had it pegged as weak after the 1st 2-3 choices, but man.. Look back over it now and see how many were terrible.
Reese was drafted ahead of Tim Anderson and Aaron Judge. Ouch.
I did not know that. It’s interesting looking back at past drafts and seeing the diamonds in the rough.
1984 draft is the draft that i like to look at. Maddex, Glavine and leither in second round. Most of first round outside mark mcgwire was a flop.
I heard that the Blue Jays designated Reese McGuire because his hands were stuck together and he no longer could catch the balls thrown to him?
Reese is going back to the minors to work on his stroke.
Reese was not jacked about this move.
Say what you want, but McGuire is excellent at beating out….infield singles.
At the very least we won’t have to hear all the jokes anymore once he is gone
He’s gonna go to the Last Blockbuster and Jack off now. God Speed in Oregon. Life Cums at you fast.
Ahh, Waller…such an optimist.
@Ducky Buckin Fent- Unfortunately, Reese can’t clap his hands together right now he’ll have to get back to you later. Lol. I think the Jays really need to think about “cutting off their losses now”
Truthfully, this is not nearly as bad as hitting your girl. It’s still pretty puzzling, however.
Look.
I’ve certainly seen a woman in the parking lot that…mmm, effected me. That’s just being a dude. But the thought of just whipping it out & working the weasel seems…really odd.
Breyvic Valera sounds like the names of two different prescription drugs.
“Do not claim Breyvic Valera if you are allergic to him.”
The hair on his palms makes it hard to fit his batting gloves over & I heard he is going blind at an extremely fast pace
@steelerbravenation- Are you trying to say that everyone on the premises were blinded by the sight of McGuire’s quick hairy palms and actions?
McGuire hit .158 during spring training, it could be said that he never found his stroke. I think Toronto’s decision to tell him to “beat it” was the right one.
Good bye mr parking lot,
Someone will give Grease McGuire (aka Yank Aaron or Jacking Robinson) another shot.
What a shame. Always thought his talents would come in handy. I guess he rubbed someone in the organization the wrong way…
Did they tell Reese to beat it?
Bring McGuire to the Marlins!
Clearly there’s a fear of exposure here on the Blue Jays part.
If Reese could hit he’d start. He can’t. He’s gone.
Riley Adams on the taxi squad in case Kirk and/or Jansen struggles.
Maybe he’ll be a late bloomer who hits just enough like Jacob Stallings. I wouldn’t mind him back in the Pirates org as AAA depth if not for extracurricular activities.
Pirates would be a good landing spot to turn his career around. He’s a strong defender and wish the Jays kept him and figured out another way.
I don’t know how long it will take but Riley Adams is the real deal. I look forward to seeing him play more. Especially because Jansen can’t hit about .150.
I still maintain that I would have tried to trade Jansen and keep MacGuire.
Adams hasn’t proved to be the real deal in the minors yet and he’s 25. There is a reason he was passed over by Kirk.
Jimmertee Agreed
Reese would be a good backup for d’Arnoud. Wouldn’t mind having him on the braves.
I was thinking of the Angels trading for Reese at the beginning of the off season. Yet it ended up being the Angels sending a catcher to Toronto
Good lord, after reading the comments this guy might need to pack up and head to Japan. You guys are brutal.
Bro, we’re a bunch of jocks.
You think what he hears in the locker room is any different?
Trust me. It’s the exact same stuff.
@j_butte- At this point can he even open the door to the locker room? Yes, he might have to go to Japan where he wouldn’t be able to understand all the jokes. This will likely follow him the rest of his career wherever he goes. This is definitely a messy situation that he’s stepped right into.
I think Reese in Japan was a song by the Vapors. I really think so!
Reese is talented…bad decision by Atkins and company.
@Mario93….agreed McGuire will be successful somewhere. Jansen can’t hit over .150. Makes me wonder why he isn’t gone.
This is a good sign as a Jays fan. Most organizations would have sent Kirk to the minors for 2 or 3 months to gain service time, then found a deal of some sort for Mcguire while sacrificing a win or two
It shows they want to win, will spend the extra few million when Kirks contract comes due for an increase in 4 or 5 years, if they are right about their assessment of him being a very good C. Other prospects will be motivated to do better knowing they too can Crack the big squad if they are worth the roster spot
It’s a shame we couldn’t use him as the sweetener for a real SP upgrade with a team who wanted everyday good D at C in a few months, but the low level high ceiling prospect we end up getting for him could turn out to be the next Gurriel or Biggio, even if its nothing in the end, at this point it’s a minimal loss with our depth at C and other higher rated prospects for potential trade purposes
Im not going to rag on Mcguire, you lot have done a good enough job with the clever jokes. Wish him the best and hope he learned his lesson
@Jaysfan1981, I agree that Kirk belongs in the big leagues. I would have tried to trade Jansen and keep McGuire. A catcher that can’t hit about .150 in Jansen is not needed on the Jays.
Reese went from a number two to going number three
Nice win by the Blue Jays over the yankees. As much joy as a yankee loss provides, I HATE the man on second base. I know it’s why the Blue Jays won today, but it’s the worst rule since the automatic intentional walk. In fact, it’s many times worse than the four fingers. What is happening to America’s pastime?
It’s dying with every one of these stupid rule changes, which don’t make a bit of difference.
It is insane that they kept that around. The 7 inning double headers make sense since there will likely be a lot of cancellations again this year but the extra inning rule succcccks.
I can’t believe they left it in after the decision was made to play 162 games. It makes no sense. You could probably go back through all the extra inning games, especially postseason classics, and see a different team winning in at least some of those games. That to me is a HUGE problem.
2003, David Ortiz two out double in the 10th inning scores the Red Sox go ahead run. Tim Wakefield retires the side in order in the bottom of the tenth and the Red Sox win the Series. What a joke. I hate this rule.
1986, Dave Henderson leads off the 10th with a two run homer. The Mets don’t win the game in the bottom of the 10th, they only tie the game.
1975, George Foster singles home the go ahead run in the top of the 12th. Fisk’s homer ties the game.
I have never agreed with you more than today. You’re on fire whyhayzee… keep preaching, man.
Here’s an idea:
When a game goes into extra innings, if two teams agree, they don’t follow this stupid rule.
Bring him back to Pittsburgh!
I fully agree about the extra inning rule placing a runner at 2nd. It’s like they are reverting back to sandlot baseball. This rule was introduced last year along with several other changes. The modifications to the number of post game series I like, the man on second serves no purpose other then to not extend the game more then one or two innings. They keep talking about numbers and computers and robot umpires. This game was designed to pit play against player team against team.
IA vision of robot umpires and computers, you feed the batters swing habits into the computer, you feed the pitches pitch history into the computer, match them up the robot umpire dictates what happens, and the players never take the field. We have it now in baseball computer games so is the next thing.
As for moving the All-Star Game, I agree it should be moved politicians need to learn they can’t make rules to benefit themselves without backlash. The PGA did it when they told the Augusta Golf Club open doors to everyone or the Masters moves, the All-star game is a on-off thing but now Coca Cola and Delta are talking about moving and that its self has real political clout.
He CLEARED waivers? I’m surprised.
Looks like other teams weren’t willing to deal with the baggage…
So, can’t comment on the Nationals thread. But why are they not required to forfeit? Seems like it would only be fair to Mets. Kind of hard to get back to make up 3 games
The Mets are basically being punished because they were the opponent of a team that couldn’t take care of themselves. When they finally play the Mets should get a guy on second base every inning.
lots of teams suffered because it last year and the schedule being condensed made it worse. I feel bad for NYM, but its not like they are the only ones who have been effected.
Nats should be forced to forfeit their games from here on out ffs. Stop spooning in the locker-room adhere to protocols!
kinda shocking
I agree.
Well I guess that speaks volumes for the amount of value McGuire has. Nice to have him as depth still.
Wow, Jays got fortunate. Very surprised.
Yeah no kidding. What a stroke of luck.
Seems everyone came to the same conclusion about Reese: the climax of his career has passed. Now comes his biggest opportunity for redemption to crawl out of the DFA shadows and show everyone the kind of package he can offer. Let’s put on a show, Reese.
Man.
You worked in “stroke”, “climax”, & “package”. & for the coup de grace “put on a show”.
A+.
Thanks, professor, that’s swell.
This is often the best time to try and pass players through waivers. Most teams have packed rosters at the start of the season.
Hoping Reese bounces back. If intense therapy is needed hopefully the Jays can help him. Whatever is going on could be contributing to his hitting struggles. He has shown he can play at-times. Whatever he is dealing with could be holding him back. Hoping he can turn his career around and do it in a Jays uniform.
Shocking! Come on.
When in baseball’s past, or present has a catcher like McGuire been a hot commodity?
Has anyone seen his stat lines on or off the field?
This guy is in no position to have a big league job anywhere let alone have a team waste a 40 man on him. Get a grip(no pun intended)
There are tonnes of catchers looking for work who can at least hit a ball, Wilin Rosario can’t even get a job.
He’s a backup catcher, dude. Chill out. The fact they got anything back for SPENT Drew Hutchison, let alone 3 guys is impressive. Especially Liriano, who helped them make the ALCS that year.
Also what are his stat lines off the field? I’d love to see those lmao, I didn’t know they were counting those now
Not sure how anyone could get the impression from reading that post that I was shocked that he went unclaimed?
As well, dumping Liriano on Houston for Teoscar Hernandez was the fleecing.
Also true about that fleecing! Jays have had good luck with Liriano, maybe they do it again this year? Haha
Teoscar’s swing when he hits a bomb is a lovely thing to watch as a baseball fan
Great! back on the same page.
Couldn’t understand that people thought or were worried he would actually get claimed.
Glove first backup catchers who are 5th on their teams depth charts aren’t hot commodities.
Also, can’t believe no pops for pulling out a name like Rosario.
Hahahahaha “2016 Francisco Liriano trade”
It doesn’t matter if McGuire does nothing for the rest of his career, Jays absolutely fleeced the Pirates in that trade
Doesn’t come anywhere close to the greatest fleecings of the Pirates in the past decade or two. That trade was just a regular Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
Were Reese’s legal issues from the incident ever resolved? Never heard the outcome.
Pretty sure he paid a fine and everyone moved on, it wasn’t a felony.