Blue Jays Add Lefty reliever Richard Lovelady, Manoah to 60-Day IL
Toronto has added veteran left-hander Richard Lovelady to their roster, a move designed to shore up their bullpen options as Opening Day approaches. To make room, right-hander Alek Manoah, recovering from Tommy John surgery, has been placed on the 60-day injured list.
Lovelady’s Spring Performance and Potential Role
lovelady, 29, signed a minor league deal with Toronto in January. Through seven spring training appearances, he carries a 5.14 ERA, along with eight strikeouts. While the ERA isn’t stellar, the Blue Jays are likely banking on his past experience and groundball tendencies to translate into a valuable bullpen role.
Prior MLB Experience and Groundball History
Before joining the Blue Jays, lovelady pitched 99 1/3 innings in the majors with the Royals, Athletics, Cubs, and Rays. His career strikeout (21.1%) and walk rates (8.4%) are near league average, but his ground ball rate of 50.9% stands out. However, that rate has dipped this spring, requiring adjustment.
Lovelady’s Contract and Roster Uncertainty
The addition of Lovelady suggests he had an opt-out clause in his minor league deal that the Blue Jays wanted to avoid. With limited MLB-experienced left-handed options,Toronto likely aims to evaluate Lovelady during the final week of spring training. Despite being added to the 40-man roster, his place isn’t guaranteed. Manager John Schneider indicated that Lovelady is still competing for a roster spot.
Waiver Possibilities and Potential Outcomes
If Lovelady doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, he could be designated for assignment and placed on waivers. Other teams might claim him based on his potential. Shoudl he clear waivers, his next move depends on his minor league contract details. With more than three years of service time, Lovelady can reject an outright assignment, but doing so with less than five years of service forfeits the remaining salary on his deal.
Other Left-Handed Relief Options for Toronto
Besides Lovelady, the Blue Jays have Brendon Little, Josh Walker, and Easton Lucas, on their 40-man roster. however, each has options and less than 50 innings of major league experience.
What factors led the Blue Jays to sign Richard Lovelady, despite his less-than-impressive spring training ERA?
Blue Jays Add Lefty reliever Richard Lovelady, Manoah to 60-Day IL
Toronto has added veteran left-hander Richard Lovelady to their roster, a move designed to shore up their bullpen options as Opening Day approaches. To make room, right-hander Alek Manoah, recovering from Tommy John surgery, has been placed on the 60-day injured list.
Lovelady’s Spring Performance and Potential Role
lovelady, 29, signed a minor league deal with Toronto in January. Through seven spring training appearances,he carries a 5.14 ERA, along with eight strikeouts. While the ERA isn’t stellar, the Blue Jays are likely banking on his past experience and groundball tendencies to translate into a valuable bullpen role.
Prior MLB Experience and groundball History
Before joining the Blue Jays, lovelady pitched 99 1/3 innings in the majors with the Royals, Athletics, Cubs, and Rays. His career strikeout (21.1%) and walk rates (8.4%) are near league average, but his ground ball rate of 50.9% stands out. However, that rate has dipped this spring, requiring adjustment.
Lovelady’s Contract and Roster Uncertainty
The addition of Lovelady suggests he had an opt-out clause in his minor league deal that the Blue Jays wanted to avoid. With limited MLB-experienced left-handed options,Toronto likely aims to evaluate Lovelady during the final week of spring training. Despite being added to the 40-man roster, his place isn’t guaranteed. Manager John Schneider indicated that Lovelady is still competing for a roster spot.
Waiver Possibilities and Potential Outcomes
If Lovelady doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, he could be designated for assignment and placed on waivers. Other teams might claim him based on his potential. Shoudl he clear waivers, his next move depends on his minor league contract details. With more than three years of service time, Lovelady can reject an outright assignment, but doing so with less than five years of service forfeits the remaining salary on his deal.
Other Left-Handed Relief Options for Toronto
Besides Lovelady, the Blue Jays have Brendon Little, Josh Walker, and Easton Lucas, on their 40-man roster. however, each has options and less than 50 innings of major league experience.
Q&A: Lovelady’s Blue Jays Arrival
- Why did the Blue Jays sign Richard Lovelady?
- Toronto needed left-handed bullpen depth, especially with limited MLB-experienced options. Lovelady’s groundball tendencies and prior MLB experience were attractive.
- what’s an opt-out clause?
- It allows a player to become a free agent if certain conditions, like not being added to the 40-man roster by a specific date, aren’t met. This clause likely motivated the Blue Jays to add Lovelady.
- What does it mean to be on the 60-day injured list?
- It means a player is out for at least 60 days. Alek Manoah, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is using this list for his recovery time.
- Will Lovelady automatically be in the Opening Day bullpen?
- No. Manager John Schneider confirmed he’s still competing for a roster spot. His spring training performance and other options will determine his fate.
- What happens if Lovelady doesn’t make the team?
- He could be placed on waivers. If he clears waivers, his next move depends on his contract. With more than three years of service time,he can reject an outright assignment,but could forfeit his remaining salary depending on his length of service
- Are there any other lefties in the Blue Jays’ bullpen?
- Yes,Brendon Little,Josh Walker,and Easton Lucas are on the 40-man roster,but each has limited MLB experience.
Keep an eye on Lovelady’s performance in these final spring training games; every pitch counts as he aims for a spot in the blue Jays bullpen!
