Toronto Blue Jays sign Mike McDade to minor league contract

July 11, 2012; Reading, PA USA; New Hampshire Fisher Cats infielder Mike McDade (40) bats during the AA Eastern League All-Star game at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Eastern Division defeated the Western Division, 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

According to Gregor Chisholm of BlueJays.com, the Toronto Blue Jays have signed first baseman Mike McDade to a minor league contract.

McDade, 24, is a former sixth round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays from the 2007 draft. After spending six seasons in the Jays’ farm system he was designated for assignment in November 2012. He was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians but by the following May he was designated for assignment again.

This time it was the Chicago White Sox who picked him and and he spent most of 2013 with the Sox’s Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte, but didn’t put up great numbers. His minor league career triple slash is .263/.322/.413 and his isolated power checks in at .135.

In 2010, McDade hit a career-high 21 home runs with the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays. He then spent the next two season in Double-A New Hampshire, hitting 16 and 15 home runs respectively, but continued to strikeout too often and not walk enough.

This spring McDade is hitting .400 with no home runs in four games with the White Sox. He will be expected to provide minor league depth and will be hard pressed to see any major league action in 2014.