The Blue Jays have designated outfielder Bradley Zimmer for assignment, according to a club announcement. The move opens a spot on the active roster for George Springer, who has been activated from the 10-day injured list.
Zimmer, 29, has held down a spot on the Toronto roster since being acquired in an Opening Day trade that sent righty Anthony Castro back to Cleveland. He’s had an extremely limited role this season and struggled mightily when plugged into the lineup, hitting just .105/.209/.237 on the season. Of course, despite appearing in 77 games this year, Zimmer has just 87 plate appearances — a total that’s reflective of his status as a pure late-game defensive replacement and pinch-running option. He’s posted solid numbers with the glove and ranks in the 95th percentile in Statcast’s average sprint speed, but it’s hard to overlook the glaring level of offensive output.
That said, it’s surely difficult for anyone to perform with such sparse opportunities to see big league pitching in a competitive setting. Zimmer had never hit much prior to the 2022 campaign, but he at least entered the year with a .226/.310/.348 batting line in 858 big league plate appearances. Were he able to replicate that line while still functioning in a late-game substitute role, he’d make for a fine fourth outfielder, but the Jays seemingly feel as though the roster spot could be better used elsewhere.
Zimmer was the 21st overall pick out of the University of San Francisco back in 2014. Current Toronto general manager Ross Atkins was Cleveland’s farm director at the time of Zimmer’s selection and surely knows him quite well after spending several years in that role while Zimmer developed into one of the game’s most highly touted outfield prospects. A sky-high strikeout rate and some glaring struggles against left-handers have kept Zimmer from ever reaching that ceiling, however, and when the Jays added Jackie Bradley Jr. on a big league deal last week, it seemed quite likely that Zimmer’s Jays days were numbered.
Trades of anyone who’s been on a Major League roster are prohibited at this point in the season, so the only resolution for Zimmer’s DFA will be to place him on outright waivers or release waivers. He technically has enough big league service time to reject a minor league assignment if he does clear outright waivers, but he does not yet have the five years of service needed to reject an outright assignment and retain the remainder of his salary. As such, assuming he indeed passes through waivers unclaimed, Zimmer figures to accept the assignment in order to avoid forfeiting the remainder of this season’s $1.3MM salary.
Shocking! (not)
Zimmer got a lot of hate for a guy that was never in the game for a important at bat like ever. The jays badly need a everyday CF who bats left handed. Would fit the teams needs in multiple areas. That guy probably isn’t available. Ketel Marte being perhaps the most likely given the dbacks strong farm with multiple OF coming up.
They have an every day center fielder, he just can’t stay healthy
No they don’t. What’s the most games Springer has played in CF in one season? Springer has never in his entire career been a everyday CF nor is he one going forward.
Springer has played 3,056.2 innings in center field. That’s 42% of his total innings in the outfield. Every year since 2017 he’s played most of his innings in center field.
baseball-reference.com/players/s/springe01.shtml
Not a CF.
hallo
“Because I say so” doesn’t equate to a proof.
Who says?
Yes, he told the first base coach.
A team that struggles so much to hit lefty pitching does not need a left handed center fielder.
Yes they do, along with one other regular lefty bat.
Marte is a poor CF. Not a good fit.
He can play more than 84 games in CF, something Springer can’t do. He’s a decent fit.
Finally.
Being that there’s no real need for the 26th man with roster restrictions on pitchers and universal DH, i thought Zimmer was actually useful, provided he never got an at bat.
No brained. JBJ was his replacement. They should just DH Springer the rest of the season to keep him healthy and productive offensively.
Have you actually seen the buffoonery in the outfield yesterday? They actually need Springer in the field. Its not like they have a lock on a playoff spot.
About time. It was painful to watch Zimmer attempt to swing a bat, it looked like a pitcher trying to hit. Honestly surprised to see George back so soon though, thought he was done til October.
now The Machine can play on my Sunday softball team! He’s my ringer for sure!!
I never understood why they acquired both him and Tapia. Two light-hitting LF #4 outfielders?
Tapia at least has been ok with the bat, just about league average. Defensive metrics don’t love him. Curious if Blue Jays fans agree that he’s below average defensively.
Definitely below average defensively. Passable is what would best describe him however that probably isn’t good enough for a 4th outfielder in my opinion. There is a reason Zimmer was able to last so long despite the poor showing at the plate.
Because they signed Springer to play CF despite him never being a true CF. Look up and see what’s the most games Springer has played in CF in one season.
What are you on? Springer is by far the best option in CF provided he can stay healthy
“Look up and see what’s the most games Springer has played in CF in one season.” 84
Wow is the mlb season 162 games? 84 is just over half, at best that’s a part time CF in my opinion.
He played plenty of RF that year for the stros’ does playing in RF not count or something?
Every year since 2017 Springer has played most of his innings in center field.
baseball-reference.com/players/s/springe01.shtml
Since Springer has played the majority of his outfield innings in center field since 2017, maybe the more relevant data would be how well he played there.
Since 2017, ranking 18th in innings at the position, Springer is credited with 11 Defensive Runs Saved and 6 Outs Above Average. He’s not elite, but it appears that, at the very least, he hasn’t hurt his team at the position.
Has to be a frustrating time for Toronto fans. Yankees are in a big slump and the Blue Jays are responding with one of their own.
If only that’s what is was. But no, this is who they are. Since early in the season (& vs. Boston) glaring inability to win any series against .500 teams. After hitting their high water mark of 33-22 they’ve been a less than mediocre 28-31 & that’s over a pretty substantial sample size. At some point its no longer underachieving – it’s a manifestation of Parcell’s famous quote.
All these players that get designated during a playoff push should steal things from the locker room before they leave out of spite
When you’re hitting 105 after 77 games played I don’t think you can feel too upset at getting DFA’d
Zimmer became redundant when the Jays signed JBJ. That being said JBJ is currently hitting .333 for the Blue Jays so maybe not giving him another AB the rest of the way will make him look productive.
Zimmer did manage extra base hits on 6 of his 8 hits and somewhere someone will give him a chance.
Bad player dont get me wrong, but I think he provides slightly more value than JBJ in the pinch runner/pinch defender role so I am not really sure why they went out and signed JBJ. Really the best part about Zimmer is that he rarely plays so he provides not that much negative value., but I feel like the Jays will play JBJ more and thus hurt the team more.
Well said
I remember watching him in the minors. He had trouble putting the bat on the ball even then but when the did the ball went far. Still, he was a disappointment in the end because he never improved year over year. Maybe he’ll get a chance overseas. I don’t see him getting another major league opportunity.
Just a reminder for those who might’ve been inclined toward prospect-hugging at the recent trade deadline: Bradley Zimmer was the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft.
The two top picks in 2014 were Brady Aiken and Tyler Kolek. Neither has advanced above A-ball.
Since 2016 here are the list of teams who have held BA top farm system who went on to win the World Series.
The cubs
Astros
Dodgers
Braves
Other teams who had top 3 spots and went to World Series 3 years later
Redsox
Seems like a correlation here it’s no wonder all the brilliant Ivy League gms are prospect hugging lol.
My point was not that having a strong farm system isn’t important: it was that draft position and prospect rankings are far from an exact science.
“So, how many how many of the All-Stars the past decade were Top 100 Prospects at one point? Overall, 61 percent of all-stars from 2009-18 were Top 100 Prospects—68 percent of hitters and 54 percent of pitchers.”
bit.ly/3QOcOHJ
Nearly 40% of Top 100 prospects don’t become star players. Baseball America doesn’t detail how many of those who did become All-Stars had long-term MLB careers. Not all do.
mlb.com/news/every-mlb-team-s-most-obscure-all-sta…
And the 2020 Dodgers were second in payroll, so they’re a dubious example to support your point.
A more granular analysis would require you to find out how many of the players on a championship team were originally acquired by the team as draftees or international free agent signings and how much they contributed to the championship season.
The dodgers best players were homegrown and will continue to be. If there was a salary cap kershaw and other higher paid guys would be the first to go. Their high payroll has very little to do with their success.
The Dodgers’ best player in 2020 was Mookie Betts.
Turner, Pollock, Muncy, Barnes, Hernández, and Taylor all came from other teams.
The Dodgers are a class organization but they are not built from within as the 50-70 teams were. The pitchers are 50% homegrown. There are three homegrown position players.
“You’re going to like the way you look. I guarantee it.” George (Springer) and (Bradley) Zimmer
Teams overhype their prospects to excite the fan base. Frazier and Zimmer are perfect examples. Neither was an impactful big leaguer. The hardest jump is from AAA to the majors. Keep that in mind the next time your favorite team tells you how great their prospects are.
Give him the Worst Hitter in MLB award.
Angels should take a flyer. Better upside than Duggar.
The Angels passed on Roman Quinn, JBJ and Derek Hill. The Angels will acquire an overpriced over the hill Boras client in the off-season and get 35 ABs over the next 8 years.
Noooo!!!!
Carter Hawkins on line 1.