Blue Jays: How former players moved this summer are doing elsewhere

Designated for Assignment

April 30th – Tanner Roark (RHP)

Signed by the Blue Jays prior to the 2020 season on a two-year, $24 million dollar deal, Tanner Roark was known for pitching deep into ballgames, labeled the “Diesel Engine” by his peers.

Roark was unable to live up to the moniker in Toronto, as he compiled a 6.80 ERA through 11 starts with the club and never pitched more than 5.0 innings throughout the season. He surrendered 14 home runs in the COVID-19 shortened season and just could not find a rhythm. A slow start to the 2021 campaign put the nail in the coffin and Roark was designated for assignment at the end of April, with the Jays on the hook for the rest of his salary for the year.

Roark would be released by the club in early May and sign with the Atlanta Braves on a minor league contract just over a week later. So far with the Braves AAA affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers, the right-hander has appeared in 23 games and found his form again in the bullpen, pitching to a 2.23 ERA through 44.1 innings while starting only three games, striking out 43 batters and collecting two saves.

The Braves did call Roark up to the roster in late July but optioned him back three days later, with the Illinois product not seeing any game action. He is currently still in AAA.

With numerous players being moved or designated this year, this article takes a look at former Blue Jays and how they are faring in 2021 with their new clubs.

May 30th – Ty Tice (RHP)

Making his major league debut with the Blue Jays this season, reliever Ty Tice rode the options bus a few times for the club this season. The right-hander would pitch to a 5.14 ERA through four games and 7.0 innings, walking four batters while striking out six. His debut was one to remember, as he faced the heart of the Los Angeles Angels order, including Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, and walked away with zero earned runs, one hit, one walk, and one hit batter.

To make room for newly signed Carl Edwards Jr. on the 40-man roster, the Jays would DFA Tice late in May.. He would later be traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations and would spend most of his time in AAA with the Gwinnett Stripers. He did make one appearance for the Braves on June 24th, going 1.0 innings while allowing a hit and a walk with zero earned runs, before being optioned back down to the minors.

The Arizona Diamondbacks would claim Tice off waivers from the Braves on August 5th and would be optioned to their AAA affiliate, the Reno Aces, where he owns a 30.86 ERA through 2.1 innings. He is currently on the development list.

July 16 – Joel Payamps (RHP)

Going through a few different organizations this past Winter, RHP Joel Payamps eventually settled in with the Blue Jays. The right-hander would pitch well with the club, throwing to a 2.70 ERA through 22 appearances with 11 walks and 22 strikeouts while being optioned and recalled multiple times before being DFA in a surprising move on July 16th.

Payamps would be traded to the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations on July 21 and has also been riding the options bus with his new club. So far this season, Payamps has appeared in six games with the Royals, pitching to a 3.00 ERA through 6.0 innings. In AAA, the Dominican product has been a bit shaky, owning a 4.50 ERA through eight outings with 14 strikeouts and four earned runs through 8.0 innings of work.