Blue Jays Lose Mike McDade
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-US PRESSWIREIn the shell game that is the Major League Baseball waiver system, teams win some and they lose some. On Friday, the Toronto Blue Jays lost one when Mike McDade was claimed off of waivers by the Cleveland Indians.
The 23-year-old first base prospect had a decent season split between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Las Vegas, hitting a combined .285 with 17 home runs, 67 RBI, and a .806 OPS between the two top levels of Toronto’s system.
McDade had been designated for assignment on November 20th, in a roster space clearing move necessitated after Bud Selig approved the major trade with the Marlins that netted Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buerhle, Emilio Bonifacio, and John Buck. While the Blue Jays would have welcomed him back as depth at Triple-A, McDade was blocked at the major league level by Adam Lind and David Cooper.
McDade will now get a shot with the Cleveland Indians. The Indians are expected to utilize Carlos Santana as a part-time first baseman, leaving McDade and Russ Canzler in a position to compete for the other half of the platoon.
Earlier in the day, both utility-man Mike McCoy and right-hander Joel Carreno cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo. Right-hander Corey Wade, who was claimed earlier in the offseason off waivers from the Yankees, cleared waivers but instead opted for free agency rather than accept a minor league assignment.