Blue Jays: 10 Minor League Contract Targets

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Justin De Fratus, RP, 28 yrs old

• Last played for (MLB): PHI in 2015
• 2015 Stats (MLB): 61 GP / 80 IP / 92 H / 9 HR / 32 BB / 68 Ks / 5.51 ERA / 1.55 Whip
• 2014 Stats (MLB):  54 GP / 52.2 IP / 45 H / 4 HR / 12 BB / 49 Ks / 2.39 ERA / 1.08 Whip

Justin may not have been included in the trade that brought Roy Halladay to Philadelphia, but he was mentioned often in trade talks and rumours. The big righty is particularly tough on LHB as he’s held them to a .210/.308/.350 line over 257 AB. Also, it seems his pedestrian numbers vs RHB may be due to an abnormally high BABIP of .341.

Kyle Drabek, SP, 27 yrs old

• Last played for (MLB): CHW in 2015
• Last played for (AAA): Charlotte, International League in 2015
• 2015 Stats (AAA): 24 GS / 137.1 IP / 125 H / 7 HR / 53 BB / 84 Ks / 3.47 ERA / 1.30 Whip

I always felt that Drabek should have become a reliever. If so, his nasty curveball would have been much more effective with a few more MPH on it and he’d actually become an MLB regular. As it is, the White Sox successfully got 137.1 IP out of him last year, and although his BB rate is still too high, they seemed to be fairly serviceable innings. A reunion with the Jays would be an interesting one, even if he didn’t begin the season in Toronto. Finishing what was started years ago could be something Kyle takes on as a challenge.

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