Blue Jays swipe intriguing reliever from division rival on waivers
The Jays hope they can help former top draft pick and prospect Dillon Tate rejuvenate his career.
MLB rosters expanded on Sunday, but the Toronto Blue Jays weren't content with just making a couple of September call-ups for the big league team. They also made an interesting waiver claim from one of their division rivals.
Blue Jays swipe intriguing reliever Dillon Tate from Orioles on waivers
Just as the Blue Jays were getting their series finale underway with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, the team announced that they had claimed right-handed pitcher Dillon Tate off of waivers from the AL East rival Baltimore Orioles. The Blue Jays optioned the 30-year-old to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. In an additional move, they also designated right-hander Paulo Espino for assignment.
Going through some struggles this season, Tate was optioned to and recalled from Triple-A by the Orioles multiple times before ultimately being designated for assignment on Aug. 28. He pitched to a 4.59 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 33 1/3 innings of relief in the majors this year. In 16 2/3 innings in Triple-A, he has a 2.16 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
Tate has never been known as a big strikeout pitcher but posted a career-low rate this season with a 15.5 percent strikeout rate. As a ground ball pitcher with a career 56.8 percent ground ball rate, he features a 93 mph sinker, a 79 mph sweeper and an 84 mph changeup in his three-pitch mix.
A former first-round, fourth-overall pick of the Texas Rangers in 2015, Tate was ranked as high as the Orioles' No. 18 MLB Pipeline prospect in 2019 when he made his MLB debut. He had some strong years in the Baltimore bullpen. He put up a 3.24 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 16 2/3 innings during the shortened 2020 season.
Tate had his best MLB season in 2022, posting a 3.05 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 73 2/3 innings, before missing the entire 2023 campaign with a strained flexor in his right forearm.
Now, the Blue Jays will hope that they can help the former top prospect rejuvenate his career and find another useful arm to include in the bullpen mix for next season. At this point, with how much the relief corps has struggled this season, they have nothing to lose.