Toronto Blue Jays trade right handed pitcher to Atlanta Braves

The Blue Jays made a trade Friday afternoon with the Atlanta Braves, sending reliever Ty Tice for cash considerations. The club removed the 24-year old pitcher from the 40-man roster by designating him for assignment earlier this week. 

Tice who stands just 5’9”, was called up earlier this season and made his debut on April 9 against the Los Angeles Angels where he pitched two scoreless innings. He last pitched on May 7 where he allowed two earns runs on five hits over 1.1 innings.  This season, he has pitched in four games (seven innings) and posted a 5.14 ERA.

The right-handed pitcher’s top pitch was his fast ball that he throws around 94mph, but also has a curveball and slider to mix up batters.

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Tice was never a high-end prospect for the Blue Jays, but he had pitched well at each level since he was drafted in 16th Round of the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft.  Tice signed a $90,000 signing bonus after being selected from the University of Arkansas and reported to Bluefield in the Appalachian League where he took on the duties of closer for the remainder of that season.  Tice posted a 1.05 ERA and 1.13 WHIP while finishing with 12 saves.  Over the next two seasons, he would continue to progress through the farm system as he would split the next year between Dunedin and Lansing and then the following year split between New Hampshire and Buffalo.   Including an inning with the Buffalo Bisons this season, Tice’s minor league stats with the Blue Jays were an 11-12 record with 28 saves and a 2.07 ERA over 143.1 innings pitched.

The Atlanta Braves have struggled to start the season as they are two games below .500, but sit second in their division.  Their bullpen has struggled this early this year, so Tice may get more of an opportunity to prove whether or not he is a Major League pitcher, which his track record shows he should get a long look.

I am still not sold on giving up so quickly on a 24-year old pitcher who had done so well through the minor league system.

Do you think the Blue Jays gave up on Tice too soon?