The Blue Jays have claimed Luis Frías off of waivers from the Diamondbacks, based on his transaction log on MLB.com. Arizona designated the right-hander for task on Thursday to make room for catcher Andrew Knizner on the 40-man roster. As Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet first famous, Frías will report back to Triple-A Buffalo. Toronto had two open spots on the 40-man roster, so no corresponding transfer might be vital.
Frías has spent his whole profession within the Diamondbacks group; he signed with Arizona as a 17-year-old worldwide free agent in 2015. The righty made his MLB debut in 2021, and since then, he has pitched 57 2/3 massive league innings with a 6.55 ERA and 5.42 SIERA. He throws arduous, averaging near 96 mph on his four-seam fastball, however he has struggled to induce sufficient strikeouts on the MLB stage. What’s extra, he has walked 43 of the 276 batters he has confronted; his 15.6% profession stroll fee is barely decrease than his 18.1% profession strikeout fee. Sadly, his numbers at Triple-A Reno aren’t a lot better. He has a 4.88 ERA and 6.32 FIP this season in 24 innings pitched. All through his profession, he has a 4.26 ERA over 124 2/3 innings with the Reno Aces.
All that stated, Frías remains to be simply 26 years previous, and he was as soon as a comparatively well-regarded prospect. Earlier than he graduated from prospect standing through the 2022 season, FanGraphs ranked him because the No. 12 prospect within the D-backs system, whereas Baseball America and Keith Legislation of The Athletic had him at No. 17. Baseball America ranked him as extremely as No. 8 forward of the 2020 marketing campaign, writing “He could possibly be a drive within the rotation if all of it clicks. In any other case, his path would possibly lead him to a high-leverage reduction function.” Whereas his days as a beginning pitcher are probably all previously, the Blue Jays should be hoping Frías nonetheless has a future as a giant league reliever. He’ll present some further depth for his or her bullpen this 12 months, which ranks final within the AL in ERA and second-last in SIERA. As for subsequent 12 months, he’ll be out of choices, so Toronto will both want so as to add him to the Opening Day roster or designate him for task.
