Blue Jays: Javy Guerra clears waivers, remains in organization

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Javy Guerra will head to Triple-A Buffalo and will serve as bullpen depth, at least for now. He was designated for assignment last week.

According to numerous reports (including those of Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae, Baseball Toronto’s Keegan Matheson, and TSN’s Scott Mitchell), right-handed pitcher Javy Guerra has cleared waivers and has been assigned to Buffalo.

Guerra had been designated for assignment on April 18 to make room for reliever Ryan Tepera, who was returning from the injured list.

Initially, it appeared as though Guerra, 33, would be a decent pickup for the Blue Jays, who signed him to a low-risk minor-league deal in January.

More from Jays Journal

• Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. open to a long-term contract
• Blue Jays: Snapping cold streaks at the right time
• Who Should the Blue Jays Extend First: Guerrero, Bichette or Manoah?
• Blue Jays now hold the top Wild Card spot, and yes that’s a good thing
• Blue Jays may have the tools to use a Bullpen Day

In his first six games, he tossed 6.2 scoreless innings, striking out nine and walking just two batters. However, his next two outings, both against the Tampa Bay Rays, would be less fruitful for him.

In the span of three days, Guerra appeared in two games, pitching just 1.1 innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits, causing his ERA to balloon to 6.75.

Though he would pitch two scoreless innings in Minnesota the day before his designation, it was clear that he was the odd man out on the Jays roster. In nine games for the Blue Jays during spring training, he pitched to an ERA of 0.87 in 10.1 innings, striking out 10 and walking four, boasting a WHIP of 1.06 and earning two holds.

Now, he’ll head to Triple-A Buffalo and log some innings until he’s needed again. With recent injuries in the starting rotation to Aaron Sanchez and, more severely, Matt Shoemaker, Guerra could be rejoining the major league team soon.

Still, the bullpen, composed primarily of Tepera, Ken Giles, Thomas Pannone, Sam Gaviglio, Elvis Luciano, Tim Mayza, and Joe Biagini, has looked solid thus far. In this sense, Guerra isn’t needed on the big league staff, at least right now.