The Toronto Blue Jays have claimed Nick Raposo off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals and have optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Paolo Espino has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room on the roster for left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough. Yarbrough was recently acquired in a trade from the Dodgers for four-time Gold Glove outfielder Kevin Kiermaier.
Cardinals Catcher Picked Up Off Waivers From Blue Jays
Raposo’s Journey In Baseball
This season, Nick Raposo has seven home runs, 28 RBIs, 15 walks, and a batting average of .193 with the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. On July 29th, the Cardinals designated Raposo for assignment to make room for righty Erick Fedde, outfielder/designated hitter Tommy Pham, and veteran bullpen pitcher Shawn Armstrong. Armstrong was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays for Dylan Carlson on July 21st. Raposo, a native of Johnston, had an impressive high school and college career as a catcher at Johnston High and Wheaton College. He was signed by the Cardinals in June 2020.
Raposo is expected to start in Triple-A Buffalo before August 6th. Despite a less impressive season, he was named player of the game with Memphis on April 26th. With the Blue Jays having traded Danny Jansen to the Boston Red Sox, having additional options at catcher is reassuring. Although Raposo, who is 26 years old, has work to do, his past experience indicates he has the potential to advance his career. He has also spent time as a designated hitter and was recognized in 2022 for his strong performance, with a chase percentage of less than 25%.