The Blue Jays have signed shortstop Eric Stamets to a minor league contract, per an announcement from his agents at MSM Sports (Twitter link). Stamets spent last season in the Rockies’ minor league system and became a minor league free agent at season’s end, which made him eligible to sign even during the ongoing lockout.
Stamets, 30, has 15 games of big league experience, all coming with Cleveland back in 2019, when he was their Opening Day shortstop. (Francisco Lindor was on the injured list due to a calf strain.) Stamets struggled through a prolonged 2-for-41 slump to begin the season, however, and was back in Triple-A Columbus by mid-April. Stamets hit .244/.312/.379 in Columbus over the remainder of that season and was eventually removed from the 40-man roster after the trade deadline had passed.
Stamets reached minor league free agency in the 2019-20 offseason and signed a minor league deal with the Rockies, who brought him back for a second season in 2021. He hit .168/.283/.319 in 139 plate appearances in Colorado’s system last year and is a career .223/.295/.371 hitter in parts of five Triple-A seasons overall.
While Stamets obviously doesn’t have a strong offensive track record, Baseball America twice rated him the fastest runner and the best defensive infielder in the Angels’ system early in his pro career. He’s been successful in 85.2% of his professional stolen base attempts and is generally regarded as an excellent defensive shortstop who can also handle second base and third base.
The Jays’ infield currently has Bo Bichette at shortstop, and Cavan Biggio is ticketed for regular reps at either second or third base (more likely the former). Santiago Espinal is the current favorite to see time at third base, while infielders Kevin Smith and Otto Lopez could both vie for bench jobs whenever the season gets underway.
Toronto is generally expected to look into additional help in the infield, as evidenced by their reported pursuit of Corey Seager (before he signed in Texas) and their rumored interest in A’s third baseman Matt Chapman (among other trade possibilities). Stamets is likely seen as some upper-level infield depth, but he’d give them plenty of speed and defense off the bench if he earns a bench spot at some point. Any further infield additions would likely push Espinal into a bench role.
With none of the guys on the 40 man (Smith, Lopez) available any time soon, there is going to be a run on these players for AAA filler.
A small upside to the lockout, I suppose.
Decent fielder, but the guy has NO stick. Better off to let the pitcher hit and DH for Stamets. Makes you wonder how he got this far.
Because a strong glove shortstop saves young pitchers pitches per inning and makes developing minor league pitchers feel better about themselves.
This might just the smartest thing ever typed on this site.
For decades guys like him would be starters around the league. Outside of the odd offensive SS here or there the position was manned by guys who typically hit 9th (AL) or 8th (NL) because they were automatic outs at the plate. Defensively though, they were vacuums. Nothing could by them. The 90’s ushered in the era of the offensive SS (Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, Miguel Tejada, and those that followed)
Ray Oyler if the sixties tigers comes to mind Died of a heart attack at age 43. Played six years with 1445 plate appearances and career 175/258/508. 15 homeruns and a 1968 World Series win over St. Louis. He had but 1 plate appearance and played defense in 4 games.
175/258/251/508
Oyler is the first guy I thought of, but there were so many other good examples from that era too: Mark Belanger, Ed Brinkman, Roger Metzger, etc, etc. In most years you were happy if they hit their weight for their batting average, but they also routinely fielded everything hit near them flawlessly.
This is indeed a Mark Belanger moment
But Stamets does harness the mycelium warp drive superbly.
But how does this affect LeBron’s legacy?!?!?!?!
Probably no worse than Space Jam…
I haven’t forgiven him for that.
Space Jam “2” was an on screen migraine headache.
I am looking forward to this work stoppage ending and the Jays acquiring what they really need: A real 3B that can rake; a top of the rotation starter and one more shutdown relief guy.
END THE LOCKOUT!!!
Eric Stamets. Now we’re cooking!
Both sides are holding hands and preparing to take a flying leap off the cliff. Mighty Casey has struck out.
Fine tuning the jet boat at this point.
The jet boat won’t hold the hefty bulk of Manfred & all his gold booty
As long as you are using boat symbolism, “Or shifting deck chairs on the titanic.”
Women & children & commissioners first
The Commissioner has to go down with his ship
Anybody know if Jays broadcasters would show some of the Jays minor league games on TV in lieu of MLB Jays? It would be fun to watch the minor league guys trying to earn their stripes and see the up and comers. AA or AAA would be fine with me and it would help keep us fans invested. No 40 man roster guys would be playing but that OK
You can get a MiLB streaming service that gives you at least the AA and AAA games and maybe some lower affiliates for some teams. I’ve heard the broadcast quality isn’t consistent across all teams but I’d trade my Sportsnet subscription for a MiLB.tv subscription if there is no end of the lockout in sight. With the parent company owning the MLB team and the broadcaster, it could be pretty contentious if they did put the Bisons and Fisher Cats on Sportsnet. I don’t really know how that would play out.
I would doubt it
But I think you can get a MiLB tv subscription for like $10 a month