The Blue Jays have launched Tim Mayza, in line with the left-hander’s participant web page on MLB.com. He was designated for project final week.
This marks the tip, no less than for now, of Mayza’s 11-year profession with Toronto. The Blue Jays chosen him within the 2013 draft, and he made his MLB debut on the Rogers Centre 4 years later. He would go on to make 352 appearances over the subsequent eight years, way over some other pitcher on the staff in that span; he ranks eighth all-time in appearances by a Blue Jays pitcher.
Mayza grew to become a key participant in Toronto’s bullpen in 2021, and over the subsequent three years, he pitched 155 innings with a 2.67 ERA. The southpaw had one of the best season of his profession simply final yr, pitching to a 1.52 ERA in 69 video games. His underlying stats weren’t fairly as spectacular, however his 3.11 SIERA and three.38 xERA had been nonetheless good numbers, particularly for a higher-leverage reliever like Mayza. Thus, his struggles in 2024 got here as a significant shock.
In 24 2/3 innings over 35 video games this yr, Mayza gave up 24 runs (22 earned) on 36 hits and 12 walks. He managed to strike out solely 16 of the 121 batters he confronted. All of that added as much as an 8.03 ERA, which makes him the one reliever within the league (min. 20 IP) with an ERA over 8.00. Whereas his underlying numbers are higher than his ERA, they’re nonetheless disappointing throughout the board. His 5.04 SIERA and 6.77 xERA each rank final amongst Blue Jays relievers (min. 10 IP), which is particularly dangerous contemplating the Blue Jays have had one of many least efficient bullpens in baseball this season. With all that in thoughts, the staff’s choice to launch Mayza shouldn’t be obscure – regardless that it might have been virtually unimaginable to think about at the start of the yr.
After greater than a decade with the Blue Jays, Mayza will now be capable to search employment elsewhere. At 32 years outdated, he might be an intriguing reclamation mission for a company that thinks it may well assist him regain his 2023 type.
