Blue Jays acquire Sam Gaviglio from the Royals
According to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, the Toronto Blue Jays have acquired pitcher Sam Gaviglio from the Kansas City Royals for cash consideration.
Sam Gaviglio is a former 5th round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, however, he made his MLB debut last season with the Seattle Mariners before heading to Kansas City on a waiver claim late in the season.
The 27-year old struggled this spring giving up eight earned runs in only seven innings of work thus ballooning his preseason earned run average to 10.29, hardly the stat line he had hoped trying to make the Royals bullpen out of spring training.
The Blue Jays will likely lean on their newest hurler to start in Buffalo especially after the recent suspension of Thomas Pannone. Gaviglio made 16 MLB appearances including 13 starts last season between Seattle and K.C. going 4-5 with a 4.36 earned run average that also included a 1.372 WHIP.
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The right-hander sports a similar 4.03 ERA in 123 career minor league games so at this point it would appear that he will be a fringe major leaguer at best and take on the role of the all-important organizational depth pitcher.
The Jays designated southpaw Matt Dermody off the 40-man roster to make room for the acquisition of Gaviglio. Dermody is essentially destined to be a LOGGY as right-handed hitters feast on his offerings for lunch hitting .315 off the 27-year old.
The Buffalo Bisons rotation could now feature Gaviglio along with Joe Biagini, Ryan Borucki, Nick Tepesch and possibly one of Deck McGuire or Chris Rowley to begin the 2018 campaign. Biagini is only going to the herd to remain stretched out as a starter in the event of an injury with the Blue Jays starting five. The move makes sense considering the blister issues that Aaron Sanchez dealt with for the entire season in 2017.
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The Gaviglio is a minor move as the Jays continue to tinker and attempt to fill out their minor league roster as Opening Day nears.