We’ve claimed C Nick Raposo off waivers from the Blue Jays. He has been added to the 40-man roster. 🔗 atmlb.com/49TzsZR
The Blue Jays’ catching depth got weaker as the Mariners claim Nick Raposo off waivers
Photo credit: © Jim Rassol - USA Today
Dec 19, 2024, 18:30 ESTUpdated: Dec 19, 2024, 18:20 EST
A former Toronto Blue Jay prospect was claimed off waivers.
It was announced by the Seattle Mariners Twitter account on Thursday evening that the team has claimed catcher Nick Raposo off waivers.
Raposo went undrafted in the Pandemic-impacted 2020 draft and signed as a non-drafted free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals shortly after the draft. His first professional season was in 2021 with the Cardinals’ Double-A team, where he slashed .267/.368/.362 with one home run in 137 plate appearances. The catcher spent the entire 2022 season in Double-A, slashing .270/.345/.461 with seven home runs in 229 plate appearances.
After 54 plate appearances in Double-A to start the 2023 season, Raposo finally reached Triple-A, where he slashed .232/.324/.368 with three home runs in 108 plate appearances. In 2024, he solely played in Triple-A, slashing .193/.251/.349 with seven home runs in 208 plate appearances.
The Cardinals added Raposo to their 40-man roster in June but designated him for assignment just over a month later. He was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays, where he slashed .246/.361/.311 with a home run in 72 plate appearances for the Buffalo Bisons. Raposo hit a career-best eight home runs in 2024.
With Raposo off the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays have just two catchers on their 40-man roster – Alejandro Kirk and Tyler Heineman. The latter is one of the best defensive catchers in the league and slashed .280/.344/.410 with three home runs in 180 plate appearances after Danny Jansen was traded before the trade deadline.
Heineman is rather inexperienced in the big leagues, as he has a career slash line of .212/.298/.273 with on home runs in 299 plate appearances for a 65 wRC+ and a 1.4 fWAR. In the past three seasons, the 33-year-old catcher has had three separate stints with the Jays.
If one of those two catchers picks up an injury, the Blue Jays have two catchers in the minor leagues that they could call up, Phil Clarke and the recently signed Ali Sánchez.
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