Roster Moves: Marcum DLed, Rzepczynski Up. Hoffpauir Down, Encarnacion Up.

by Tom Dakers on Jul 2, 2010 6:00 PM EDT in Toronto Blue Jays News

Here is the press release:

MARCUM PLACED ON DISABLED LIST

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have placed RHP SHAUN MARCUM on the 15-day disabled list today with right elbow inflammation, optioned 3B JARRETT HOFFPAUIR to Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League (AAA), recalled LHP MARC RZEPCZYNSKI from Las Vegas and selected the contract of 3B EDWIN ENCARNACION from Las Vegas. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays have outrighted OF JEREMY REED, and he subsequently has elected free agency.

MARCUM, 28, has made 17 starts this season, posting a 7-4 record with 3.44 ERA. His seven wins are tied for the club lead, while his 107.1 innings are 2^nd behind Ricky Romero. The right-hander has record the lowest opponent’s average in the American League amongst starters with a .236 mark since the 2007 season.

RZEPCZYNSKI, 24, has made nine starts for Las Vegas after recovering from a broken finger in spring training. The 6’3", 205 lb. left-hander has recorded a 4-3 mark with a 6.66 ERA, although in his last six outings has fashioned a 4-1 record with a 3.38 ERA. The Yorba Linda, California native was 2-4 with a 3.67 ERA for the Blue Jays in his rookie season of 2009 in 11 starts.

ENCARNACION, 27, has appeared in seven games for the 51s after being optioned to Las Vegas on June 21. The Dominican Republic native posted .438 average, with two doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI in his short stint in the Pacific Coast League. In 37 games with the Blue Jays this season, the right-handed hitter batted .200 with nine home runs and 22 RBI.

HOFFPAUIR, 27, appeared in nine games for the Blue Jays, posting a .214 average with one double. The Natchez, Mississippi native returns to the 51s in Las Vegas where he batted .328 with nine home runs and 43 RBI in 57 games during the 2010 season.

Tom back: I figured that Hoffpauir would last long but he wasn't hitting at all and his upside isn't much, at his best he really isn't a major league third baseman and we never saw him near his best. EE has a lot more potential.

To make room for Encarnacion on the 40 man, the Jays outrighted Jeremy Reed to Vegas. He refused the move and is now a free agent. I liked Reed some but it isn't a big loss. He was never going to get playing time with us.

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Comments

Given that Hoff was not exactly a standout at third, I don’t mind having EE back. And he is much better with the bat.

by Arakasi on Jul 2, 2010 6:10 PM EDT reply actions

I still thing that we're going to miss Hoff's mediocre D in 3B.

EE should hit over .350 with a lot of power to justify the hole he’s representing in 3B.

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Jul 3, 2010 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Let alone that only yesterday Hoff managed a perfect bunt – a fit that most Jays can’t seem to be capable of.
Can you see EE squeeze a bunt?
I don’t.
But I can definitely see opposing teams bunting to 3B when he’s around, and getting away with it.

Edwin, please prove me wrong. There’s nothing that’ll make me happier ( well maybe if both Lind and Hill will find their swings…)

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Jul 3, 2010 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

it'll be good to see what Zep can do

I’m a little worried about Marcum, but if it’s not a big deal it could end up being a good thing as it’ll give him an extra long all star break and limit his overall innings after the surgery. His delivery looks like it puts a lot of strain on his arm though, so it’s a significant concern.

I’m just speculating, but I wonder if the Jays knew it was only going to be a start or two whether they would have used Tallet for the fill-in. Now if Marcum returns soon after the break and nothing else changes the Jays would burn an option for either Zep or Litsch for just a start or two, not that it would be a huge deal, of course.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jul 2, 2010 6:11 PM EDT reply actions

I think his short arm delivery is why they may want to trade him now, he's an injury risk

by ClintB on Jul 2, 2010 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes lets trade every player who gets hurt.

by IanJ on Jul 2, 2010 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

IanJ, is that what I said, it's been reported all over that the jays have thought about

moving Marcum and Law and the guys at BA speculate his delivery may be what causes him arm injury, maybe it would be smart to move a guy at the height of his value playing some risk managment and betting he gets injured alot in the future.
Or you could overreact to the comment like you did.

by ClintB on Jul 2, 2010 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Law and the guys at BA?

Weren’t they the same ones who believed that Mark Prior was the greatest pitcher ever and then turned around right after he got hurt and said “we can proved his delivery is what causes him to get injured”?

When do the Jays become the team taking risks on players, rather then the ones giving up on players? Marcum is relatively young and they should be able to sign him to a reasonable contract extension. This isn’t a case of signing an aging free-agent whose best years are behind him.

On top of that, where are the Jays going to get pitching from if they deal Marcum? They won’t get a major league ready “anything” let alone pitcher if they trade Marcum. So who would fill in? Yes you can say that there are many pitchers in the system, but Marcum provides more then just innings. He is without a doubt a leader on this team, and I would argue that is probably even more valuable then his pitching.

by IanJ on Jul 2, 2010 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I think this is just the Jays taking advantage of an injury to give their pitchers a rest. Even if it is a short term injury, I am sure the Jays plan on giving him an extended holiday anyways. Zep’s arm has been essentially unused this year because of his finger. Tallet has also had a forearm injury, so I am not sure if the Jays even want to go back there with him.

by Joey P on Jul 2, 2010 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

at least tallet is not starting

by WesleyY on Jul 2, 2010 6:19 PM EDT reply actions

yea no joke

The best Tallet can do is 5 IP 8H 3BB 2K

HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THEM, I PRESS DOWN MAH GUNS!

by BenjiDoc on Jul 3, 2010 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Good to see Scrabbles back up.

Hope he can copy his 2009 rookie campaign. Hopefully Marcum can come back strong. Oh and Snider is finally playing again!

by JAYson G on Jul 2, 2010 6:50 PM EDT reply actions

Good to get EE back

“The Hoff” didn’t turn too many heads in the field or with the bat during his time, although he must have been proud to get a single off Mariano Rivera today.

Hopefully Edwin learned his lesson during his stint in Vegas and he shows a bit more hustle (if in fact that was why he got sent down in the first place). He’s hardly an all star third baseman but it was pretty clear that the Jays missed him, trying everybody and their mom at the hot corner with mostly disastrous results.

Now as for Marcum, I’m worried. The Jays are saying it’s ‘not serious’, they just want to give him some extra rest combined with the all star break, etc. etc. I’m not buying it. When the ace of the staff has a sore pitching elbow, it’s a big deal no matter how you try to dress it up.

by shuswapslugger on Jul 2, 2010 8:23 PM EDT reply actions

E5 needed to play at this level- his bat is too good for PCL pitching. Trade market-wise, he’s valueless at AAA. He could fetch decent value if he hits well at the major league level. As for his defense, after the last several games where no one contributed solid defense nor hitting, you might as well go at least 1 of 2 with E5.

Marcum might need to be shut down for a little bit- like a month. You don’t want another Mcgowan on your hands. As for trading him, it’s going to be more difficult now to get fair value for Marcum now more than ever. So you might as well coddle him a bit. It’s not like the Jays are winning anything soon anyways.

by bleh on Jul 2, 2010 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

Marcum

should not be traded at the tradeline.
he is too valuable right and now the he has hit the DL, he value will raise some questions.
besides, unless we get a haul of decent prostect( unlikely) he wont be moved.
he is a very important piece of our young rotation, he keeps our guys loose in the dugout.

by elpikiman on Jul 3, 2010 12:09 AM EDT reply actions

i think people are only saying to trade Marcum if an offer comes thats too good to be true
Its not like we want to shop him, hes just not “untouchable”

by FenixL on Jul 3, 2010 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions