How are members of the 2023 Blue Jays doing on their new teams? (May update)

With almost seven weeks of the 2024 MLB season into the books, the Toronto Blue Jays have been desperately trying to stay afloat in the uber-tough American League competition. At a record of 19-23, they currently sit in last place in the AL East division with a whopping 9.5 games out of first. To make matters worse, their record ranks them only ahead of four teams in the entire American League.

With many members of the 2023 Blue Jays moving on from the team last year, could any of them have helped prevent the Jays’ current miserable start to 2024? Let’s take a look at how some of these former Jays are doing now as we reach the quarter mark of the MLB season.

Anthony Bass

For former reliever Anthony Bass, he still remains on the outlook in finding a new home ever since his dismissal from the team last June. Taking away his off-field distractions, Bass was actually decent in his two short stints with the club, as he compiled a 3.28 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over three seasons in Toronto.

Adam Cimber

After running into some injury troubles along with putting up some of his worst numbers of his career in 2023 with the Jays, Adam Cimber has found a new life with the Los Angeles Angels this season. Signed to just a one-year, $1.65M value deal, Cimber has rediscovered his previous dominant form in the early parts of this season with his new club.

To date, Cimber has posted a perfect 3-0 record with 5 holds and no blown saves, along with a 4.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP with 6 walks and 16 strikeouts in 18 total innings pitched over 19 relief appearances. If we take away his disastrous recent outing against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 13, his ERA would have been sitting at a pretty 2.60 as well.

Thomas Hatch

For Thomas Hatch, he somehow never managed to reach his full potential with the Jays, despite often showing some glimmers of dominance at times over the years. Even just last season, he had held the opposition scoreless in his first four appearances for Toronto, then would subsequently lose it in his next couple of outings. In the end, he was designated for assignment and was ultimately picked up on waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates to finish off his 2023 season.

For 2024, Hatch has signed on with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp team of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan with hopes to revitalize his career. But similar to his time with the Jays, his struggles would resurface after a decent start to 2024 with his new club. As a result, Hatch has now seen time with both their professional league team and farm team this season. He has struggled to an 0-2 record with a gaudy 7.62 ERA, giving up 3 home runs in just 13 innings pitched over three games with the pro team, but has done better with their farm team, compiling a more impressive 1.02 ERA over 17.2 innings in four games played.