Blue Jays sign Matt Shoemaker

Jeff Passan from Yahoo! Sports broke the news this morning that the Blue Jays have signed right handed starter Matt Shoemaker. Jon Morosi tells us the deal is in the $3-3.5 million range for 2019, comfortably below the estimated $4.3m arbitration figure that MLB Trade Rumors had him pegged for before being non-tendered at the end of November.

The 32 year old Shoemaker is also controllable through 2020 via arbitration if the Jays are happy enough with their acquisition here, which isn’t a guarantee. Shoemaker missed the majority of the last 2 seasons with forearm soreness, throwing a total of just 108.2 innings to fairly middling results. He put up a 4.64 ERA with a 4.62 FIP, hurt most by allowing nearly 1.5 home runs per 9 innings.

However, he also has a history of being a strong starting pitcher as well. In 2016, he made 27 starts, missing time due to a line drive off his head, but was otherwise healthy and very strong. Over 160 innings, he struck out 8.04 batters per 9 innings, limiting walks to an impressive 1.69 per 9, while allowing a home run at a much healthier 1 per 9 inning rate. This led to a 3.88 ERA with a 3.52 FIP, good enough for a 3.5 fWAR.

Shoemaker enters the Blue Jays rotation with a similar storyline as Aaron Sanchez, as the two righties possess great talent, but have been on similar paths over the last 3 seasons. Both had excellent 2016s followed by injury riddled 2017 and 2018s. Here’s to hoping that both find their way back to their great 2016 seasons.

Roster Resource has the 40 man roster full, which I thought we were at 39. So if it’s full, someone will have to be removed. Stay tuned for that announcement.

(Edit: Read the sites that you’re linking to - Shoemaker is already on there, so no one needs to be removed)

Welcome to the team Matt!

Addendum

The important part here that I forgot to mention above: 6 of his 7 starts in 2018 were to finish the year in September, so I think it’s safe to assume that he is healthy right now.