Blue Jays Minor League Free Agents, Part 3: Dunedin Blue Jays

Efrain Nieves
Efrain Nieves

 

This third part of the minor league free agent listing is going to be the shortest as the Dunedin Blue Jays only had two minor league free agents going into the offseason. We’ll also update you on the news that the Blue Jays re-signed a few of the minor league free agents discussed in previous posts.

 

 

First, the update. The Blue Jays have announced that they have re-signed righty Scott Copeland to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. The Fisher Cats also tweeted out that the Blue Jays have resigned righties Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Mike Lee (in addition to Bobby Korecky who had re-signed earlier). It’s very likely that Bibens-Dirkx and Lee will spend at least some time with the Fisher Cats in 2015 while I expect Copeland to start with Buffalo.

 

Lefty reliever Tony Davis is one of the free agents coming from the D-Jays’ roster at the end of 2014. Originally drafted by the Twins in 2009, Davis fits the free agent category because the Twins released him in 2011 and he came to the Blue Jays in 2012 after stings with Quebec and Fargo-Moorhead in independent leagues. Davis, 26, has been very effective in Dunedin but struggled when he was given a chance with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2014, posting a 5.70 ERA through 23 2/3 innings, walking 22 and striking out 17. While in Dunedin, he had a 3.53 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP and 16 walks and 53 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings.

Probability of re-signing: 25%

 

24-year-old lefty Efrain Nieves (who turns 25 on Saturday), came to the Blue Jays in the 2012 minor league Rule 5 draft after having been drafted by Milwaukee and spending 2012 with Detroit. The Puerto Rican spent 2014 in Dunedin and was outstanding, posting a 2.29 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP while throwing 86 1/3 innings, mostly in relief. He had an excellent walk rate but a rather low strikeout rate (2.2 BB/9, 5.9 K/9). Nieves is quite deceptive, getting a little more out his 84-86 mph fastball than he otherwise might and his side-arming action also allow his stuff to play up.

Probability of re-signing: 40%

 

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