The Blue Jays announced that they have selected the contract of outfielder Cam Eden. Infielder Ernie Clement has been optioned in a corresponding active roster move with infielder Mason McCoy designated for assignment to open a 40-man spot.
Eden, 25, was a sixth-round selection of the Jays back in 2019 and has been working his way up the minor league ladder since then. He’s spent all of this year in Triple-A, hitting .257/.354/.333 in 460 plate appearances. That only amounts to a wRC+ of 81 but the Jays are likely interested in Eden as a speed-and-defense option off the bench, as he has stolen 53 bases in 57 attempts this year. He’s lined up at all three outfield spots but primarily in center field.
At the end of August, the Jays recalled Clement and selected McCoy as shortstop Bo Bichette went on the injured list with a quad strain. Bichette returned a couple of weeks ago, which bumped McCoy back to the minors and Clement to the bench. With Bichette back in the lineup on a regular basis and Santiago Espinal able to serve as a backup infielder, it seems the Jays decided Clement’s spot would be better utilized by having Eden on hand for his wheels.
As mentioned, the 28-year-old McCoy was brought up to cover for Bichette’s injury. He’s considered a glove-first infielder and was put into six games by the Jays but only was allowed one plate appearance, in which he struck out. He was acquired from the Mariners in a July trade that sent right-hander Trent Thornton the other way. In between the two organizations, McCoy has hit .221/.321/.372 in the minors this year for a wRC+ of 69 while playing second base, third base, shortstop and even a bit of left field.
The Jays will place him on waivers in the coming days. He still has a full slate of options and just a few days of service time, meaning he could be of interest for a club looking for some versatile depth, though he wouldn’t be postseason eligible on any club that puts in a claim since it’s after September 1. If he clears waivers, he will stick with the Jays as non-roster depth but would qualify for minor league free agency at season’s end.
Why bring up a RHH OF now instead of 4 months ago?
Rays and Yankees have 0 LHP to throw at us.
He has a 687 OPS and requires a 40 man move
Can someone explain this, I don’t get it
Nothing this front office did this year is explainable……I am of the belief that they win because they baffle the competition with absurdities.
SPEED!!!!
Seems like they’re going to give the entire outfield a breather this week. He’s got speed to burn.
We’re not in a position to give the entire OF a break.
Without Vladdy, and the lack of overall power in the lineup. It seems as though we may be angling a small ball approach. Guys are really banged up at this time of year and giving Springer, KK and Varsho some rest would go a long way. Even if it’s just a few innings each game as a defensive sub, I like the call up quite a bit. I felt the same way about Horwitz and he seems to be figuring it out. Here’s hoping for lightning in a bottle.
Cam Eden was one of the players that must be added to the 40 man roster (along with already added Davis Schneider and traded Adam Kloffenstein among a few others), prior to November or expose them to Rule V draft at the winter meetings. So in addition to adding bench depth, the FO might be taking a look at him at the MLB level while taking care of some upcoming roster business ahead of that deadline?
Is now the time for that? I suppose he can’t be worse than watching some of the regulars come to the plate ie: Chapman
I’m sure he’s significantly worse at the plate than even a slumping Chapman
He’s pretty clearly going to be used as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. He’s not being brought up for his bat.
As the post (above) stated he is a fast player capable of covering all three OF positions defensively (with his primary position having been CF), and probably more importantly sounds like a good base runner with speed (stealing 53 bases in AAA while only being caught 4 times), which suggests that he could be used as a late inning base running replacement or as the Manfred ghost runner in any extra inning games, say if you’re down a run and Kirk or Belt are on base late in a game where the Jays need a run. His season stats don’t scream someone that needs to be added to a starting lineup, but he seems like a useful player as the last guy on the bench.,
His sworn enemy is Jake “the Snake” Arrieta.
I see what you did there.
“We’re going back to the garden”
Eden is a base stealing threat and the Jays need a guy like that on the bench. Clement is a really good defender at short.
On another note it’s time for the Jays to bench Varsho and use him as a defensive replacement. Cavan has earned more playing time than him. Same with Schneider, and Whit can play LF.