The Blue Jays gain pitching depth by signing RHP Paolo Espino to a minor league contract.
This is bound to change at some point. With several candidates out there who would be good fits – particularly bat-first designated hitters – there has to be some movement once the new year arrives.
In the minor leagues, there has been very little movement. The Blue Jays signed right-handed pitcher Paolo Espino, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman, on Saturday. While Heyman did not confirm whether the contract was for the major leagues or the minor leagues, Sportsnet quickly followed up with a story claiming that it is for the minor leagues.
The Cleveland Indians selected Espino, 36, in the 10th round of the 2006 MLB Draft. He traveled around a bit before making his big league debut with the Brewers in 2017. In his major league career, he has pitched in 94 games (41 starts), with a 5.01 ERA and an ERA+ of 82. He’s a soft-tossing pitcher who can serve a variety of roles on a pitching staff, which has a lot of importance in today’s game.
Last season, the Bisons’ starting lineup included Zach Thopmson, Casey Lawrence, Wes Parsons, Drew Hutchison, and Matt Peacock. They have all either signed elsewhere or are now free agents at this point. Espino is a no-risk deal that will provide the Bisons with much-needed experienced for next season right now.
As of now, the Blue Jays have only completed minor league signings this offseason. As the organization’s newest players, Espino joins re-signed Trevor Clifton and Max McDowell, as well as catcher Payton Henry and promising pitcher Andrew Bechtold.