Toronto Blue Jays Non-Tender Three Players

The Blue Jays made it official Friday evening announcing that they had non-tendered Raimel Tapia, Bradley Zimmer and Vinny Capra which makes them free agents.

The decision does not come as a surprise as Tapia and Zimmer were both designated for assignment this past Tuesday.  Tapia came over to the Blue Jays this past March from the Colorado Rockies, along with prospect Adrian Pinto in exchange for Randal Grichuk.  Tapia likely got a lot more playing time than the team hoped or anticipated due to injuries to each of their starting outfielders.  In 433 plate appearances, the Dominican product posted a decent batting average of .265, but he failed to get on base enough as he drew just 16 bases on balls posting a .292 on-base percentage. 

With Tapia not returning, the club will have a decent amount of cash available as MLB Trade Rumours had projected him to earn a salary in the range of $5.2 million for the upcoming 2023 season.  The same website had projected Zimmer to earn a $1.3 million contract for the upcoming season. 

I have a weird feeling Zimmer still finds his way back into the Blue Jays organization. Zimmer was a Ross Atkins first-round pick with the then-Cleveland Indians back in 2014 and Atkins acquired him for the Blue Jays this past April for Anthony Castro. 

Zimmer could not get knocked off the major league roster as injuries kept arising and he just kept finding a spot on the club as a late-inning pinch runner or defensive replacement.  Once August came along the club got healthy and with a slash line of .105/.209/.237, he was DFA'd and claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies.  However, 11 days later the Blue Jays reclaimed him on waivers from the Phillies. In Zimmer’s time with the Blue Jays, he went 9 for 89 (.101) with 41 strikeouts. His bat wasn't why he was on the roster though, coming in as a late-inning defensive replacement for most of the season. 

Somehow I feel he will sign a minor league deal with the club with an invite to Spring Training; and potential injuries might arise, which will have him end up on the 26-man roster.

The Toronto Blue Jays gain some roster space after non-tendering three players

Capra is a bit of a surprise, he is a former 20th round pick from the 2018 draft who had suffered injuries over the last two seasons, but he still registered 15 home runs and 87 RBI with a .310 batting average over 137 minor league games during that time.  Capra made his major league debut this year going 1 for 5 with a pair of walks in seven plate appearances.

The recent trade of Teoscar Hernandez and now the non-tender of Tapia leads me to believe that management has something big in the works for the outfield next season.