Blue Jays Ink Brett Carroll To Minor League Deal

Mar 11, 2012; Jupiter, FL. USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Brett Carroll (15) dives back to first base safely against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. The game was postponed due to rain after 4 innings. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

While all of the pitchers are seemingly flying off the market with little to no word of the Toronto Blue Jays involvement, that doesn’t mean the team is being completely complacent. The team also has some holes on its depth chart in regards to outfielders, and on Tuesday, they addressed that specific spot of need.

According to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com, the Blue Jays signed outfielder Brett Carroll to a minor league contract and extended him an invitation to Spring Training.

The 31-year-old Carroll hasn’t played at the Major League level since 2012, but the long-time Marlins farmhand will provide some much needed depth at the upper levels of the minors for the Blue Jays. His slash-line in the Majors is a measly .201/.280/.319 but his production in the minors has been significantly better. In 886 games and 3,461 minor league plate appearances, Carroll owns a .254 batting average, 126 home runs, 449 RBI, and a .777 OPS.

Defensively, he’s spent most of his time in center and right field. Those are two strong positions of need in Buffalo this season, especially if the Blue Jays opt to keep both Anthony Gose and Moises Sierra at the big league level. Sierra is out of options, so that’s almost guaranteed unless he’s traded. Gose has options remaining, but he will push hard to stay up with the big club.