The Toronto Blue Jays have a lot of work to do between now and the end of the season. With the MLB Trade Deadline firmly behind them, they will face the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, and Seattle Mariners to close out August. But before that, some Blue Jays news was announced recently regarding Charlie Saum and Dameury Pena.
On Friday night, the Blue Jays play the first game of their final series against the Phillies this year. It will be Jose Soriano’s debut with the Blue Jays, and the team will also welcome Matt Waldron on Friday night. The game on August 7th will begin at 4:40 PM Mountain Time, 6:40 PM Eastern Time.
With all of that in mind, here is everything you need to know about the news on Saum and Pena, as well as looking at which new Blue Jays could, or will, make their debut on Friday against the Phillies.
Toronto Blue Jays News: Dameury Pena Given New Assignment
According to the MiLB transactions page, the Blue Jays made a couple of moves on August 6th. One of those moves involves the newly acquired Pena.
Pena is a 20-year-old infielder. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound product of Bonao, Dominican Republic, was part of the package that came back from the Minnesota Twins in the Jeff Hoffman trade.
He was assigned to the Vancouver Canadians immediately after the acquisition. Now, he has been assigned from the Canadians to the Dunedin Blue Jays.
Charlie Saum Put on Development List Following Poor Year
The other move announced was putting Saum on the development list.
He first came to the Blue Jays by signing a minor league contract with the organization in late July. Since signing that contract, he has moved around from the FCL Blue Jays, Dunedin, and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Saum is a 22-year-old catcher. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound player has now been transferred to the development list.
Jose Soriano, Matt Waldron, & Brett Bateman Blue Jays Debut
Ahead of the first Phillies game of this series, the Blue Jays announced a few different moves.
Outfielder prospect Brett Bateman, who came over from the Kevin Gausman trade to the Cubs, will be batting ninth in his Major League debut.
Perhaps more significantly, Soriano will make his first start in Toronto’s rotation. The Blue Jays acquired him in a trade that saw them part with three prospects, including the second-ranked prospect within the organization, Arjun Nimmala.
Finally, reliever Waldron will join the team today. He was claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres on August 5th.
Waldron is a 29-year-old hurler who was originally drafted by the Cleveland Guardians. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed pitcher has played in 10 games this year. In those games, he has struck out 28 batters while posting a 1.56 WHIP and a 7.16 ERA.
Toronto’s hopes of making the playoffs hang by the tiniest of threads. However, all it takes is one prolonged hot streak to bring Toronto back into the thick of another playoff appearance.
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