Blue Jays add Payamps, Phelps

The Toronto Blue Jays have claimed RHP Joel Payamps off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays/Twitter

February 11, 2021

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

A week shy of their first official workout in Dunedin, the Toronto Blue Jays have added two right-handers into their pitching mix, acquiring RHP Joel Payamps off waivers from the Boston Red Sox, and inking veteran righty David Phelps to a one-year, $1.25-million deal.

Signed as an amateur free agent in 2011, Payamps, 26, owns a cumulative ERA of 4.15 with 576 strikeouts against 205 walks throughout his 145 games at the minor league level, 119 of which have come as a starter. The 6-foot-2 product of Santiago, D.R., has appeared in a handful of major league contests over the last two seasons, operating with a four-pitch mix that includes an effective slider and a mid-90's fastball.

To clear a spot for Payamps, RHP Shun Yamaguchi, who allowed seven earned runs over his final 2 2/3 innings in 2020, was designated for assignment.

Phelps posted a combined ERA of 6.53 across 22 games split between Milwaukee and Philadelphia last year, but he also produced his highest single-season K/9% (36.5) during the COVID shortened campaign.

For his career, the former 14th-round draft pick of the New York Yankees has posted an overall WHIP of 1.319 with 587 strikeouts across 291 appearances. Having been traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for RHP Thomas Hatch at the deadline in 2019, Thursday's deal marks his second go-around with Toronto.

To make room for Phelps on the roster, the Blue Jays have designated outfielder Derek Fisher for assignment.

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