Blue Jays Quick Hits: Chris Colabello, Rowdy Tellez, and more

Blue Jays news and notes from the morning of May 12, 2019, including an update on some former Blue Jays and a pair of minor-league transactions.

Colabello signs with Skeeters of Atlantic League

Chris Colabello, once one of baseball’s most surprising underdogs, has signed on with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League, the team announced Tuesday. Prior to being suspended for the use of performance-enhancing drugs in 2016, the first baseman slashed .321/.367/.520 in 333 at-bats in 2015 with 15 home runs and 19 doubles in 101 games.

Cordero DFA’d by Washington

RHP Jimmy Cordero, who, in 2015 was traded from Toronto to Philadelphia in exchange for outfielder Ben Revere, has been designated for assignment by his current team, the Washington Nationals, per Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic. Cordero, originally signed as an international free agent back in 2012, last played for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies.

Carrera released by Dodgers

Former Blue Jay Ezequiel Carrera, who spent the first part of the 2019 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, was released by the Dodgers Tuesday, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Carrera, now 31, spent parts of three seasons in Toronto, posting an OPS of .716 and adding 17 homers and 69 RBI in 332 games.

Solarte ousted from San Francisco

Former Blue Jays INF Yangervis Solarte has been designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants after going 15-for-73 in 28 games, according to a team announcement. The Blue Jays are retaining $750,000 of his 2019 salary, per Sportsnet.

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Smith Jr. continues hot streak in Baltimore

Dwight Smith Jr., who was the victim of an early-season Blue Jays roster crunch, has been continuing his streak of dominance with the Baltimore Orioles in May, slashing .310/.355/.483 in 29 at-bats this month. For the season, Smith Jr., 26, carries an OPS of .816 and has stolen four bases. Smith’s success has become a frequent point of discussion for Blue Jay fans on social media, especially with the below average performance of their own outfielders so far.

GCL Blue Jays release Mauricio, Kelly

According to the Gulf Coast League transactions page, the GCL Blue Jays have released third baseman Kenny Mauricio and first baseman Yhordegny Kelly. Mauricio, 19, got as far as Bluefield last season, while Kelly, 22, posted an OPS of .880 in 20 games with Bluefield in 2018.

Blue Jays “considered front-runner” for De Castro

Always active in the amateur international market, the Blue Jays are the “front-runner[s]” to sign Dominican shortstop Rikelvin De Castro, MLB Pipeline notes. De Castro, 16, “is a contact hitter who hits line drives all over the field” and “has been compared to a young Jose Reyes”.

Lugnuts activate Groshans

The Low-A Lansing Lugnuts have activated top prospect Jordan Groshans from the 7-day IL, according to the Midwest League transactions page. Groshans, currently the organization’s No. 5 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s list, carries a .927 OPS in 20 games for Lansing this season, adding 13 RBI and six doubles to go along with 11 runs scored.

Giles racks up 100th career save

Blue Jays closer Ken Giles saved his 100th game Friday, pitching a scoreless inning in the team’s 4-3 win against the Chicago White Sox. For the season, Giles has pitched to an ERA of 1.56 in 18 games so far, striking out 26 in 17.1 frames, allowing just three earned runs on 13 hits and five walks.