ROSTER REINFORCEMENTS
Deadline pickup Liriano helps Jays take series opener in Kansas City,
KANSAS CITY— Francisco Liriano, the last of the freshly acquired Blue Jays to make his Toronto debut, made his first appearance in his new threads Friday night against the Royals. Ahead of what figures to be an exciting home stretch, we took a closer look at the new faces in the Jays’ clubhouse (stats before Friday’s games):
MELVIN UPTON JR., OF
Age: 31 2016 stats: .249, 16 HR, 20 stolen bases
Acquired: July 26, via trade from the San Diego Padres with cash for a minor-league prospect
Resume: 12-year veteran of the Rays, Braves and Padres; 28 career postseason games with seven homers.
Contract: Signed through 2017 ($16.4 million, paid by the Padres).
Role: He is the fourth outfielder behind the starting trio of Michael Saunders, Kevin Pillar and Jose Bautista. He will be used primarily against left-handed pitchers, while also occasionally serving as a lateinning defensive replacement or pinch runner.
Did you know? Melvin and his younger brother Justin are the only brothers in Major League Baseball history to be drafted first and second overall (in separate drafts), and the only brothers in baseball’s 20-20 club (home runs and stolen bases in a single season).
JOAQUIN BENOIT, RHP
Age: 39 2016 stats: 1-1, 4.30 ERA Acquired: July 26, via trade from the Seattle Mariners for Drew Storen and cash.
Resume: 15-year veteran of the Rangers, Rays, Tigers, Padres and Mariners; 20 career post-season games with three saves and a 2.82 ERA. Contract: Free agent after this season.
Role: The Jays are hoping the former Tigers closer benefits from a change of scenery after a tough first half in Seattle. He will initially be called upon to preserve leads in the sixth and seventh innings, primarily against right-handed hitters, in tandem with lefty Brett Cecil.
Did you know? Benoit holds the MLB record for longest save, earning the unusual honour with a seven-inning relief appearance on Sept. 3, 2002, in which he allowed just one hit.
SCOTT FELDMAN, RHP
Age: 33 2016: 5-4, 3.05 ERA Acquired: Aug. 1, via trade from the Houston Astros for a minor-league prospect. Resume: 12-year veteran of the Rangers, Cubs, Orioles and Astros; nine career post-season games, all relief appearances in 2011. Contract: Free agent after this season.
Role: Feldman figures to be the long man in the Jays’ bullpen, capable of throwing multiple innings. He also slots in as the seventh starter on the depth chart and could be thrust into a starting role in case of an injury.
Did you know? Feldman, like Jays’ centre fielder Kevin Pillar, is one of just nine Jewish players active in Major League Baseball. He is also one of just five active players born in Hawaii. He grew up in Northern California, where his father worked as an FBI agent.
FRANCISCO LIRIANO, LHP
Age: 32 2016 stats: 6-11, 5.46 ERA Acquired: Aug. 1, via trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates with two minorleague prospects for Drew Hutchison. Resume: 11-year veteran of the Twins, White Sox and Pirates; four career post-season games with three starts, including a win in the 2013 NL wildcard game.
Contract: Signed through 2017 ($13.7 million).
Role: He is a starter for now, as the Jays plan to move forward with a six-man rotation. But part of their decision in keeping Sanchez in the rotation was predicated on the fact that Liriano expressed a willingness to move to the bullpen if it came to that. So depending on his performance and the health of the rest of the pitching staff, it is possible he could make some relief appearances.
Did you know? Reflective of the roller-coaster nature of his career, Liriano has twice won his league’s comeback player of the year award: 2010 with the Twins and 2013 with the Pirates. He threw a no-hitter on May 3, 2011, in which he issued six walks and struck out just two batters. He was the Pirates’ opening day starter the last three seasons.