Report: Blue Jays showing interest in RHP Jaye Chapman

Free agent pitcher Jaye Chapman. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

According to Chris Cotillo at MLB Daily Dish, the Toronto Blue Jays are one of a handful of teams showing interest in free agent right-handed pitcher Jaye Chapman. Cotillo says that Chapman has two workouts scheduled for this week and the Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers have also been linked to the 26-year-old free agent.

Chapman has 14 MLB appearances under his belt, all from 2012, when he posted a 3.75 ERA in 12 innings. He had 12 strikeouts and 10 walks, which is basically the epitome of who he was as a player coming up (lots of Ks, little control).

The Chicago Cubs non-tendered him after the 2012 season but then re-signed him to a minor league deal. He suffered a hip injury in April, which caused him to miss most of the 2013 season and looking at his numbers it was clearly evident that he wasn’t the same guy.

He mixes speeds well and his fringe-average fastball sits in the 88-91 MPH range with decent sink. However his best pitch is easily his changeup, which he throws nearly as often as his heater. It has plenty of fade and will generate swings and misses. If he ever makes noise at the MLB level it will likely be due to his plus change. His slider is another fringe offering, which means Chapman likely profiles as a middle reliever.

I’m assuming what the Blue Jays reported interest in Chapman comes from the fact they are looking for relievers with options to give them more flexibility out of the bullpen next season. It’s bunched up at the moment but stocking up arms in Triple-A is always a good thing, especially when that player comes with option years to burn.