According to Ari Alexander of KPRC2, the Toronto Blue Jays have signed free-agent relief pitcher Yimi Garcia (elbow) to a two-year contract worth $15 million. Last season, Garcia opened the season in Toronto and was eventually traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder Jonatan Clase. Overall across 39 innings of work, the right-hander held a 3.46 ERA and a stellar 0.90 WHIP with five saves and 13 holds. Garcia's season was cut short in late August due to elbow inflammation. Under the hood, he generated an impressive .185 xBA, 32.0% strikeout rate and 34.4% hard-hit rate, which were all significantly above the average marks. Fantasy managers should monitor his status leading up to spring training, as he may face an uphill battle to be ready for the season opener. With Garcia returning to Toronto, fantasy managers should expect him to operate as the go-to eighth inning option, but he could eventually mix in for save opportunities with Chad Green.
Yimi Garcia's Season Over After Moving To 60-Day Injured List
The Seattle Mariners moved right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia (elbow) to the 60-day injured list on Tuesday due to right-elbow inflammation, which will put him out for the rest of the 2024 season. In other moves, the M's also placed right-handed starter Luis Castillo (hamstring) on the 15-day IL (retroactive to Sept. 9) with a left-hamstring strain and selected the contract of catcher Seby Zavala from Triple-A Tacoma. The 34-year-old Garcia recently had a setback with his elbow injury and won't pitch again for the team this year. The Dominican hurler began the year pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays, where he had all five of his saves in 2024, before being traded to Seattle at the deadline in late July. Garcia only pitched in nine innings out of the bullpen after the trade and allowed six earned runs while walking four and striking out seven.
Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia (elbow) was scheduled to begin throwing this week at the team's extended spring camp after experiencing right-elbow inflammation during his most recent outing on Aug. 19. Garcia told the training staff that the issue felt similar to the one that put him on the injured list in June when he was still with the Toronto Blue Jays, but that it's not as significant. General manager Justin Hollander said the team doesn't have a timeline on Garcia, but they are hopeful he could be back at some point in the final month in September. The Dominican hurler had allowed six earned runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out seven in just nine relief innings with Seattle before his elbow injury. When he's able to return, Garcia will return to a key late-inning setup role in front of closer Andres Munoz.
The Seattle Mariners placed right-hander Yimi Garcia (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 20) on Friday with right-elbow inflammation and recalled left-hander Gabe Speier from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. Garcia, 33, is 3-0 this year with five saves, 10 holds, a 3.46 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 49 strikeouts and 12 walks in 39 games with the Toronto Blue Jays and Mariners this year. All five of the Dominican's saves came with Toronto, though, and he's been serving as a late-inning setup man since being sent to Seattle at the trade deadline. In nine innings of work with the M's, he's allowed six earned runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out seven. Perhaps Garcia's recent poor performance are directly tied to his elbow injury. For however, long Garcia is sidelined, Seattle will look for Collin Snider and Tayler Saucedo to step up in setup roles.
The Seattle Mariners are acquiring right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, according to sources. The main return for the Blue Jays is outfield prospect Jonathan Clase. Garcia was one of the best relievers available at this year's trade deadline. The M's make another significant move after acquiring outfielder Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night. While Garcia probably won't come in and take over the closer role from Andres Munoz in Seattle, the 33-year-old veteran remains highly valuable in fantasy leagues that count holds in 2024. The Dominican hurler went 3-0 in Toronto this year with a strong 2.70 ERA (2.64 FIP), a 0.80 WHIP, five saves, 42 strikeouts and only eight walks in 30 innings out of the bullpen. Garcia should have even more opportunities for holds for the contending M's.
The Toronto Blue Jays activated right-hander Yimi Garcia (elbow) from the 15-day injured list on Friday and optioned pitcher Zach Pop to Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. The Blue Jays also recalled right-hander Erik Swanson from Buffalo. Garcia will return to Toronto's bullpen after being sidelined since the middle of June with right-elbow neuritis, and the 33-year-old veteran also had a setback along the way due to some neck stiffness while on his minor-league rehab assignment. Now that he's back, Garcia should have a chance for saves with regular closer Jordan Romano (elbow) potentially out for the rest of the season. Garcia's primary competition for saves will be veteran right-hander Chad Green. Swanson had an ERA north of 9.00 in 17 appearances out of Toronto's bullpen earlier this year and struggled initially at Buffalo, but he's back in the bigs now and could become an option for fantasy managers in holds leagues by the end of the year.
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Yimi Garcia (elbow) made his slated appearance for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. A return to the last-place Blue Jays for Sunday's series finale against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks hasn't been ruled out, per manager John Schneider, but it's also possible the team simply activates him following the All-Star break. Either way, Garcia is on the cusp of being reinstated from the 15-day injured list and needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues at this stage of his recovery from right ulnar nerve neuritis. Although the 33-year-old veteran right-hander could be a trade chip ahead of the deadline on July 30, Garcia owns a superb 2.57 ERA (2.88 FIP), 0.78 WHIP, and 37:7 K:BB over 28 innings and has a chance to unseat Chad Green as Toronto's preferred closer with Jordan Romano (elbow) shut down for another month.
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia's (elbow, neck) planned minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday was delayed for the second straight day due to a stiff neck, but he threw on the side instead. Garcia is now scheduled to pitch for the Bisons on Thursday. If that goes well, he could return to Toronto's bullpen for the final series of the first half of the season this weekend in Arizona against the Diamondbacks. It's not ideal for the 33-year-old, but it doesn't sound like a serious setback if he still has a chance to return to the big-league roster before next week's All-Star break. Garcia has become a much more interesting fantasy asset since regular closer Jordan Romano (elbow) underwent potentially season-ending surgery. When Garcia rejoins the Jays, he'll have a shot to take over regular closing duties from Chad Green if he can stay healthy.
Yimi Garcia Has Rehab Outing Pushed Back Due To Stiff Neck
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia (elbow, neck) was scheduled to make a minor-league rehab appearance for Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday but was scratched due to a stiff neck. Garcia's issue is considered minor, though, and he's now scheduled to pitch for the Bisons on Wednesday. The 33-year-old's rehab has taken a slight pause, but if he's able to get through Wednesday's outing without a setback, there's still a chance he could rejoin Toronto's bullpen before next week's All-Star break. With Jordan Romano (elbow) potentially out for the year after having elbow surgery, Garcia has become even more valuable to the Jays and fantasy managers, as he could take over closing duties from Chad Green when he comes off the injured list. Garcia has gone 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, five saves and 37 K's in 28 relief innings in 2024.
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia (elbow) said his side session went well on Wednesday and he felt good on Thursday morning. Garcia is joining Triple-A Buffalo on Friday and will pitch for the Bisons in his first minor-league rehab appearance on Saturday. He's thinking he'll need at least a couple of rehab outings before the team considers reinstating him from the injured list. The 33-year-old should be able to rejoin the back end of Toronto's bullpen before the All-Star break. And with Jordan Romano (elbow) potentially missing the rest of the season now after having elbow surgery, Garcia becomes even more attractive in fantasy leagues as the Blue Jays' potential primary closing option when he's healthy. Right now, veteran Chad Green has locked down closing duties in Toronto with both Romano and Garcia on the shelf.
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