The Chicago Cubs placed catcher Brian Serven on waivers, and the Toronto Blue Jays claimed him, the team said on Tuesday.
On January 11, merely six days after they obtained him off waivers from the Colorado Rockies, the Cubs designated Serven for assignment. After signing Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga and completing a two-for-two deal of prospects with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago decided not to pursue Serven further.
In the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft, the Rockies selected Serven. In 2022, he finally made his major league debut, batting.203 through 62 games with six home runs, 16 RBI, a.593 OPS, and a -0.1 WAR.
Serven began 2023 as a part-time starter for Colorado, but he failed right away and was demoted to the minor leagues in early May. The remainder of the season, he played in just one MLB game. He ended up with a.130 batting average, one RBI, a.304 OPS, and a -0.4 WAR.
Serven has given up two passed balls, had seven mistakes, given up 23 wild pitches, and caught 15 of 63 possible base stealers in 548.0 innings behind the plate in his career.
Serven is now in a position to contend for a spot on the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster. The 28-year-old would probably wait out his time in Triple-A until he is required as an injury replacement, even if he doesn’t make the cut.
As of the end of 2023, Alejandro Kirk is expected to be Toronto’s starting catcher. Danny Jansen, in his spare time, should see time behind the plate. The New York Mets claimed Tyler Heineman, the late-season backup from the previous season, off waivers in December.
Sam Connon serves as a staff writer for FanNation and Sports Illustrated’s Fastball division. Prior to joining Bleav Podcast Network, he covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation’s All Bruins, 247Sports’ Bruin Report Online, Rivals’ Bruin Blitz, and the Daily Bruin. He was honoured by the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists for his work as a sports columnist.
The news that Shota Imanaga has been acquired by the Chicago Cubs is a source of great delight.
The left-hander proven to be an exceptional pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball before deciding he wanted a new challenge in Major League Baseball, despite not drawing the interest of other pitchers on the market approaching free agency.
Imanaga, who was feeling quite at home in Chicago, was hopeful the Cubs would extend a contract to him.
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