Erstwhile RHP Gavin Floyd is back in a Blue Jays uniform, per a team press release this afternoon. The deal is a minor league contract with the standard invitation to spring training. Terms and conditions relevant to salary and/or an opt-out date have not yet been announced.
In the soon to be 34-year-old’s case, those conditions might be more relevant than usual. Floyd was said, last spring, to be a rotation candidate until he lost that battle to Aaron Sanchez (in which there is no shame) so it’s reasonable to conclude both the pitcher and the team see him as capable of returning to the starting role. That, then, provokes the question of whether or not he has the ability to opt-out if they don’t retain him on the major league squad. If they can, in fact, assign him to Buffalo then he would presumably become the default “#6 starter” which is one of the priority needs that Toronto still had to fill.
On the other hand, if he’s focused on being on a major league squad regardless of role, and has the option to walk away, then there are implications for bullpen construction since the Blue Jays would not want to let a potential emergency starter get away. This is, of course, assuming he pitches well enough in Spring Training to demonstrate his value.
Floyd was a good contributor during the first half of last season, with a 3.75 K/BB ratio, 8.7 K/9 and a typically tidy 2.3 BB/9 rate. Also worth noting, although the 31 innings pitched is a small sample, LH hitters hit a mere .111 off him last year, with a .450 OPS. While that sort of result would be a boost to a bullpen starved for reliable options versus lefties, it’s not reflected in his career rates so it’s likely a fluke.
Floyd’s transition to the bullpen last season saw him gain 1.1 MPH on his fastball, which helped him allow just three runs from the beginning of the season until May 11th in 16 1/3 innings pitched. However, the wheels fell off after that, and he had a 6.75 ERA from that point until his season ended due to injury on June 25th. With Floyd the question is always about staying healthy, and if he could, he will likely be able to contribute to the big league club in 2017 as the 6th or 7th reliever on the squad.
As always, there is no such thing as a bad minor league deal. Let’s just hope this one is followed up with a few MLB deals.
Lead Photo: © Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
Think for the bullpen, replaces Benoit. Now TBJ has;
Loup, Tepera, BIagiani, Floyd, Grilli, Osuna, and require only 1 more reliever, hopefully another LHP for the Bullpen.
That is an inexpensive Bullpen: maybe $8 MM. total. Biagiani can cross over to the 6th Starting Pitcher.