Teams pass up on free Gift as Ngoepe clears waivers

Can I go this entire post without making a terrible name-related joke? Absolutely not!

The rest of Major League Baseball was presented with an opportunity for a free Gift when the Blue Jays designated Ngoepe for assignment, but the utility infielder cleared waivers and will be outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo.

Sorry, sorry. That’ll be the only one, I promise.

Ngoepe struggled with at the plate with the Jays ultimately leading to his assignment. He had 19 plate appearances, one hit, one walk, and 12 strikeouts. But his defence was good!

Anyways, the Jays get to hang on to Ngoepe for the purpose of organizational depth without keeping him on the 40-man roster. It’s pretty clear Ngoepe had been passed on the depth chart by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. who has been solid in his Blue Jays debut over the past few weeks. Ngoepe was already likely behind Richard Urena on the depth chart too. That said, while the Jays value Gurriel and Urena more long-term, I imagine that if the big league club was looking for a pure backup infielder in order for the other two to get more reps in the minors, it would be Ngoepe because his development doesn’t really matter.

Maybe we see Ngoepe back up down the road, maybe we don’t. The more depth the merrier, I always say.