Raptors news: 1 player untouchable in trade talks, Ime Udoka buzz growing

Raptors news: 1 player untouchable in trade talks, Ime Udoka buzz growing

The Toronto Raptors have made it clear that they are not going to sit idly by while their team gets lapped by the rest of the Eastern Conference. Firing Nick Nurse, despite the fact that he is the only coach in franchise history with a championship ring, signals that direction loud and clear. The Raptors […]
Raptors news: 1 player untouchable in trade talks, Ime Udoka buzz growing – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

The Blue Jays have reassigned Ricky Tiedemann and 11 other players, Addison Barger remains at big league camp

The Blue Jays have made some roster moves.

On Monday evening, the Blue Jays reassigned 12 players to the minor leagues, which you can see in the embedded tweet below.

The #BlueJays announce they’ve assigned these 12 players to Minor League camp.
They can still be brought back over for MLB spring games, so you’ll still see a few of them. pic.twitter.com/g4EPd8Mn1Z
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 13, 2023

The name that immediately jumps out is Ricky Tiedemann. The consensus Blue Jays; top prospect probably wasn’t in competition for a spot, but the exposure to big-league hitters could help his development. It’s also worth noting that the 20-year-old will be shut down for a few days, as he has shoulder soreness in his pitching arm.
The other six non-roster invitees reassigned to the minors are: OF Cam Eden, C Jamie Ritchie, LHP Jimmy Robbins, RHP Sem Robberse, RHP Hayden Juenger, and LHP Jimmy Burnette. The latter pitched in 3.1 innings, striking out five batters and allowing a single earned run.

Here’s Jimmy Burnette (@Burnette_Jimmy) strikeout and whiff thread.
A bunch of nice sliders here for his four whiffs.#BlueJays pic.twitter.com/SY3QO0jJmX
— Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) March 11, 2023

The Blue Jays also optioned five 40-man roster players: INF Orelvis Martinez (two homers), INF Leonardo Jimenez (3 hit-by-pitch), INF/OF Spencer Horwitz (playing for Team Israel), RHP Hagen Danner (shut down for a few days with forearm pain), and RHP Yosver Zulueta. The former struck out the side in his appearance on Monday afternoon.

82.9 mph slider for his second strikeout of the game! pic.twitter.com/8Cg016ht9C
— Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) March 13, 2023

While these players aren’t officially at the big league camp anymore, there will still be plenty of opportunities to play in spring training games. For example, the Jays will have a split-squad day on Friday, with both games against the Phillies.
It’s also worth noting that Blue Jays Nation’s second-ranked prospect, Addison Barger, survived the first wave of cuts. Could he be in cont …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

Blue Jays designate RHP Julian Merryweather for assignment

The Toronto Blue Jays made a few moves earlier today, acquiring RHP Zach Thompson from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for prospect outfielder Chavez Young while also making the Brandon Belt signing official, inking the veteran first baseman to a one-year deal.
With a full 40-man roster, the Blue Jays’ front office had to make some room for Belt and designated right-handed reliever Julian Merryweather for assignment. 
Merryweather was acquired back in 2018 as the “player to be named later” of the Josh Donaldson trade that saw the third baseman head to Cleveland. At the time of the deal, Merryweather was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and wouldn’t make his debut with the Blue Jays organization until mid-June of 2019, making two starts before finishing the year on the IL once again.
The Toronto Blue Jays have designated reliever Julian Merryweather for assignment
In 2020, Merryweather had converted to a bullpen arm and made his MLB debut for the Jays, appearing in 1.1 innings on August 20th against the Philadelphia Phillies. He would finish the season with a 4.15 ERA through 13.0 innings, racking up 15 strikeouts in the process with an IL stint mixed in between.
The California product followed that introduction with a stellar opening to the 2021 campaign, striking out seven batters through four relief appearances while amassing two saves in the process, both of which came against the New York Yankees. This hot start had Jays fans thinking of big things for the 6’4″ …

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Author: Tyson Shushkewich / Blue Jays Nation

Blue Jays claim RHP Junior Fernández off waivers from Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays have made another bullpen acquisition, this time claiming right-hander Junior Fernández off waivers from the New York Yankees on Thursday, the team announced via social media.

ROSTER MOVE: We’ve claimed RHP Junior Fernández off waivers from the Yankees. pic.twitter.com/dbXJZANkKy
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) January 5, 2023

Fernández, who spent most of last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, is no stranger to the waiver wire as he was designated for assignment in September and ultimately claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. But the 25-year-old’s tenure in “The Steel City” only spanned a few months before he hit waivers again in November, eventually claimed by New York.
The 6-foot-3 hurler returned to the waiver wire just over a month later and now finds himself joining the Blue Jays organization with the calendar flipped to 2023. And he’ll be looking to build off a disappointing 2022 performance.
In his fourth big-league season with St. Louis, Fernández registered a 2.93 ERA over 15.1 innings in relief, but he could’ve fared far worse, evidenced by his concerning 5.85 FIP and 11.4 per cent walk rate. The young righty also struggled to prevent home runs, posting a 1.76 HR/9 and a 25 per cent HR/FB ratio. And he was also worth minus-0.3 fWAR.
Fernández didn’t surrender a run over his three appearances with the Pirates, although he walked four of his 14 batters faced and only str …

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Author: Thomas Hall / Blue Jays Nation

Raptors letting Norman Powell run wild in homecoming is embarassing

Raptors letting Norman Powell run wild in homecoming is embarassing

The Toronto Raptors made one of the riskiest trades in franchise history in the Tampa bubble, sending Norman Powell away to the Portland Trail Blazers in order to bring Gary Trent Jr. up north. Powell signed a five-year contract with Portland before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers just one year after the first […]
Raptors letting Norman Powell run wild in homecoming is embarassing – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Could Raptors reunite with DeMar DeRozan amid Bulls drama?

Could Raptors reunite with DeMar DeRozan amid Bulls drama?

While the Toronto Raptors have won a championship and made the playoffs three times since the departure of DeMar DeRozan in the Kawhi Leonard trade, some fans have spent the last few years wondering about what it would take to bring No. 10 back to Toronto and further add to his legacy. While DeRozan signed […]
Could Raptors reunite with DeMar DeRozan amid Bulls drama? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Bulls’ struggles could make ideal Raptors trade target available

Bulls’ struggles could make ideal Raptors trade target available

The Toronto Raptors have made a solid start to the season despite having to deal with a series of injury problems since the beginning. Nick Nurse’s side finds themselves with a 13-2 record and sitting at 7th in the Eastern Conference. The same thing cannot be said about the Chicago Bulls’ start to the campaign, […]
Bulls’ struggles could make ideal Raptors trade target available – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Sourav Mahanty / Raptors HQ

Cole Hamels wants to pitch in 2023. There’s no way the Blue Jays would be interested, right? RIGHT?!

Amidst the several free agent moves made on the hot stove recently, one former MLB pitcher has announced that he still wants another shot at taking the mound.

Multiple reports emerged on Wednesday afternoon that Cole Hamels still has ambitions of pitching in the MLB, per his agent, John Boggs.

Cole Hamels, still only 38, would like to pitch in 2023, his longtime agent John Boggs said. Hasn’t pitched since 2020.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 7, 2022

Hamels is a four-time All-Star, as well as a four-time top-8 finisher in Cy Young voting. His resume is stacked with postseason accomplishments, pitching in 17 playoff games, starting 16 of them, as well as being the MVP of the 2008 NLCS and the 2008 World Series.
Hamels owns a career 3.43 ERA, 2,560 strikeouts, and a .572 winning percentage. While his tenure with the Phillies highlights his career, Blue Jays fans may know Hamels well from his time with the Texas Rangers. He pitched against Toronto in both ALDS match-ups in ’15 and ’16.
Hamels hasn’t seen big league action since the COVID-shortened 2020 season with the Atlanta Braves. He only pitched 3.1 innings that year, as shoulder fatigue and triceps tendonitis kept him on the injur …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

Errors prove costly as Yankees defeat Jays 5-2, clinch division

Dan Shulman made one of the better points of the night. The Blue Jays can play with anyone, but they can’t be successful handing the opposition more opportunities. I’m paraphrasing, but that turned out to be the tone of the game tonight, as the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 5-2 to clinch the AL East.
The rollercoaster ride that has been Jose Berrios’ season looks like it is still at another low point, as the righty allowed five earned runs over 5.1 innings, despite registering his 1,000th career strikeout tonight. While the loud contact was way down, the Yankees gave him death by a thousand paper cuts, if you will, as seven of the nine hits he allowed were singles.
George Springer homered off of Yankees starter Jameson Taillon to lead off the game, but the offense struggled to produce much else until the later innings. The Yankees took a 2-1 lead in the 3rd inning, however, behind a couple of RBI singles from Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres.
Rain started to figuratively pour in the top of 5th, when Rizzo skied a ball into shallow center fiel …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

Raptors’ Dennis Schroder interest shows lack of trust in PGs

Raptors’ Dennis Schroder interest shows lack of trust in PGs

The Toronto Raptors have not made any significant point guard additions this offseason despite names like Dennis Schroder remaining in the free agent miasma for most of the last few months. With Fred VanVleet fresh off being severely overworked, that comes as a bit of a surprise. The Raptors appear to be moving on with […]
Raptors’ Dennis Schroder interest shows lack of trust in PGs – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ