Blue Jays Get Approval to Train in Toronto and Make Last-Minute Changes to 60-Man Player Pool
By Scott Rogust
The Toronto Blue Jays have the potential to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the 60-game season. As the team prepares for summer camp, they've made some changes to their player pool.
On Thursday, the Blue Jays announced that they've claimed infielder Breyvic Valera off waivers from the San Diego Padres. Additionally, the team added outfielder Josh Palacios, right-hander Bryan Baker, and utility man Patrick Kivlehan.
ROSTER MOVES: We've claimed INF Breyvic Valera off waivers from the Padres.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 2, 2020
Additionally, we've added OF Josh Palacios, UTIL Patrick Kivlehan and RHP Bryan Baker to our Club Player Pool. pic.twitter.com/h3z8BTUYR0
These additions put the team well over the 60-player limit, but these transactions come after the team placed Brandon Drury, Hector Perez, Jonathan Davis and Elvis Luciano on the 10-day injured list. These additions could potentially mean that those Blue Jays received positive COVID-19 tests, as they've hit the IL for unspecified reasons.
#BlueJays claim INF Breyvic Valera back from #Padres and add RHP Bryan Baker, INF Patrick Kivlehan and OF Josh Palacios to 60-man player pool. That pushs them to 62, and only way to be over 60 is if players are put on COVID-19 injured list. So they've had more positive tests.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) July 2, 2020
Valera is now on the Blue Jays for the second time in the past year. Last September, the team claimed him off waivers from the AL East rival New York Yankees. Prior to that stint, Valera had been with the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals. In his five-year career, Valera slashed .223/.294/298 along with one home run and 14 RBI through 54 games.
As for the three names besides Valera, Kivlehan is the lone player with MLB experience, as he slashed .208/.302/.401 with 10 homers and 28 RBI through 118 games between the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and Padres.
#BlueJays make additions to their 60-player pool:https://t.co/fexi5sYWND pic.twitter.com/hkjYs2ic3k
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) July 2, 2020
Palacios spent this past season with Double-A New Hampshire, where he recorded a .266 batting average and .787 OPS with seven home runs and 38 RBI. Baker spent the 2019 season between Double-A and Triple-A Buffalo, where he posted a 3-6 record along with a 3.17 ERA and 71 strikeouts through 54 innings of work.
Additionally, get ready, Jays fans: these new additions, as well as all your favorite Jays, will officially be training in Toronto after receiving a government exemption!
We're coming home ?
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 2, 2020
Our Summer Training Camp will be held at Rogers Centre! pic.twitter.com/OPKIjVPUl9
Get ready. It's happening.