Toronto Blue Jays Brass Hoping Third Time’s a Charm for Gavin Floyd
The Toronto Blue Jays are bringing back a familiar face to help round out their bullpen depth.
The Toronto Blue Jays have re-signed right-handed pitcher Gavin Floyd to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.
#BlueJays re-sign Gavin Floyd to a minor league deal. He gets big league invite.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 5, 2017
Floyd, 34, is working his way back from a partially torn lat muscle that ended his season early last year in late June. Prior to his injury, Floyd pitched well for the Blue Jays, posting a 4.06 ERA with 30 strikeouts and eight walks in 31 innings of work out of the bullpen.
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The question with Floyd has never been about talent, it’s been about whether his arm can make it through the grind of a big league season. Since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2013, Floyd has only pitched in 98 2/3 innings. While he’s posted a solid 3.10 ERA during that span, he’s also been plagued by more injuries, including a fracture in his elbow and shoulder issues.
Even as a short reliever, you have to wonder if Floyd’s arm is capable of making it through a full season. Based on how determined Floyd is to come back, I’d say he plans on throwing until his arm falls off, or until doctors tell him he can’t pitch anymore. You have to admire his tenacious desire to keep pitching, but if you’re the Blue Jays, you can’t expect much from Floyd. If you get 40 quality innings this year, great. But they could also get nothing from him.
Despite that possibility, I think it’s fair to say that Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins are big fans of Floyd’s and they firmly believe he can make a comeback. After all, they have signed Floyd in each of the past three offseasons (with Cleveland in 2015 and Toronto in 2016 and 2017).
Overall, it’s another low-risk, high-reward move, which is something I think fans are tired of hearing, but, hey, at least we have some Toronto Blue Jays news.
Next: Phillies have Expressed Interest in Bautista
What are your thoughts on the Toronto Blue Jays re-signing Gavin Floyd to a minor league deal? Let us know in the comments below.