Blue Jays add starting depth by signing Nick Tepesch

According to several reports, the Blue Jays have brought back starter Nick Tepesch on a minor league deal.

The Blue Jays have signed Nick Tepesch to a minor league deal without an invitation to big league camp. Tepesch will, therefore, report to minor league camp and will not compete for an opening day roster spot. This is a signing which provides some starting depth for the Jays, after the signing of Jaime García a couple of weeks ago.

Tepesch, 29, started just four games last season. One with the Minnesota Twins and three with the Blue Jays. In 14 innings with the Jays, he posted an ERA of 5.14 with 1 win and 2 losses. The 29-year-old has pitched in four major league seasons, with the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and lately the Twins and Blue Jays.

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His best season so far was in his second year with the Rangers in which he pitched 126 innings and won 5 games with a 4.36 earned run average. He owns a career ERA of 4.71 with a losing record of 10 wins and 20 losses over 238.2 innings.

The Kansas City native provides some starting depth which was very demanded last season after all the injuries the Jays had in the rotation between J.A. Happ, Francisco Liriano, and especially the lingering blister issue of Aaron Sanchez.

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Although the Jays have better depth this year with several prospects like Thomas Pannone and Ryan Borucki expected to start the year at Triple A. Possibly along Joe Biagini as his role remains uncertain, having starting depth with some major league experience, even if it isn’t very successful, can be helpful and gives the organization some more flexibility when it’s time to call up a starter if an injury occurs. Something that, if the Jays want to contend this year, will have to be avoided.