The Rays optioned Waguespack to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Waguespack will be squeezed off the active roster as Tyler Alexander returns from the bereavement list Saturday. The 30-year-old right-hander posted a 5.40 ERA and 2.30 WHIP across 10 innings through four appearances and may return to Tampa Bay later this season should the Rays' pitching depth be tested again.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Sharp in no-decision
Rotowire
Waguespack came away with a no-decision in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants, allowing one unearned run on four hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.
Making his first start of the season, Waguespack wasn't stretched out enough to qualify for the win -- he got lifted after 71 pitches (45 strikes) -- but he certainly pitched well enough to earn one. The 30-year-old right-hander has had a bumpy beginning to 2024, posting a 5.40 ERA and 11:10 K:BB through 10 innings, but this performance may keep him in the mix for further spot starts or bulk relief assignments.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Set for spot start
Rotowire
Waguespack will start Friday's game against the Giants, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Tyler Alexander (personal) is unavailable for the game, so the Rays will need to rely on a spot starter. Waguespack was in contention for a rotation job throughout spring training and worked three innings in his most recent outing. Across a total of six frames this season, he has allowed six earned runs while maintaining a 7:8 K:BB.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Slated for long relief
Rotowire
Waguespack will open the season in a long-relief role for the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He had been competing for a spot in the rotation, but the Rays have picked Tyler Alexander for that role. Waguespack holds a career 5.08 ERA and 79:38 K:BB over 13 starts and 14 relief appearances at the major-league level.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: May be relief option
Rotowire
Waguespack threw only two innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, an indication he may be headed for a relief role to begin the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Waguespack is a candidate for the rotation with both Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) sidelined. However, his workload has decreased as spring has progressed, going from 48 and 53 pitches in his first outings to only 40 on Monday. Waguespack could fill a multi-inning relief role, though Tyler Alexander looks to be lined up for a starting job.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Rays selected Waguespack's contract from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Waguespack had inked a minor-league contract this offseason following a two-year stint in Japan and has earned a spot on the major-league roster after allowing three runs with a 6:1 K:BB over five innings this spring. The 30-year-old right-hander is a candidate to make some starts early on in the season while Taj Bradley (pectoral) is sidelined.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Option for rotation
Rotowire
Waguespack is one of the candidates for the Rays' rotation while Taj Bradley (pectoral) is sidelined, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Waguespack signed a minor-league contract with the Rays in January following a two-year stint in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Orix Buffaloes. The 30-year-old has experience as a starter and a reliever and holds a 5.40 ERA and 6:1 K:BB over five innings this spring. Waguespack might not be stretched out enough to be used as a traditional starter, but he could perhaps work as an opener or bulk reliever.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Joins Tampa on minors deal
Rotowire
Waguespack signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Monday.
The deal includes an invitation to big-league camp, but the 30-year-old right-hander was most likely brought aboard by the Rays to serve as bullpen depth at Triple-A Durham. Waguespack logged a 4.43 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 9.6 K-BB% across 95.2 innings over parts of two seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays in 2019 and 2020, but he's since spent the last two campaigns overseas in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Orix Buffaloes. He struggled in his second season with Orix in 2023, pitching to a 5.77 ERA over 43.2 innings.
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Jacob Waguespack: Heads to Japan
Rotowire
Waguespack signed with the Orix Buffaloes of NPB on Friday, Yahoo Japan reports.
Waguespack spent all of 2021 with Triple-A Buffalo, where he recorded a 2.86 ERA in 69.1 innings as a swingman. Heading into his age-28 season, he's young enough that he still has the chance to impress overseas and make his case for another MLB contract, though his 5.08 ERA in 95.2 career innings at the highest level isn't particularly impressive.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Passes through waiver wire
Rotowire
The Blue Jays outrighted Waguespack to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Though he no longer possesses a spot on the 40-man roster, Waguespack will continue to attend big-league camp with the Blue Jays after going unclaimed off waivers. Expect him to open the Triple-A season as a member of Buffalo's rotation.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Waguespack was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Saturday.
Waguespack was healthy to begin spring training and made two relief appearances for the Blue Jays over the first week of Grapefruit League play. He allowed four runs on five hits and one walk while failing to strike out any batters over 1.1 innings. As a result, he'll be removed from the 40-man roster to make room for right-hander Joel Payamps, who was claimed off waivers by Toronto in a corresponding move.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Available for first spring game
Rotowire
Waguespack (back) is slated to pitch during Sunday's spring opener against the Yankees, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
The 27-year-old missed the final weeks of the 2020 campaign due to a back strain, but he appears to be clear of that injury at the start of camp. Waguespack covered 17.2 innings for Toronto last season and struggled with an 8.15 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Waguespack was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left back strain Thursday.
Waguespack was recalled by the Blue Jays on Wednesday, but he was roughed up in relief against the Yankees. The right-hander allowed five runs on five hits and one walk while striking out zero over two innings. His injury could have played a role in his struggles, and he should now miss the remainder of the regular season while he recovers. It's unclear whether Waguespack will be in the Blue Jays' bullpen during a potential postseason run.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Returns to active roster
Rotowire
Waguespack was recalled by the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Waguespack will continue his shuffle between the active roster and alternate camp as part of a string of transactions in the bullpen Wednesday. The right-hander was sent down Saturday, but he'll return to the bullpen several days later. However, he should continue to work in a low-leverage role as he carries a 6.32 ERA and 1.91 WHIP over 15.2 relief innings this season.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Optioned yet again
Rotowire
Waguespack was optioned by the Blue Jays on Saturday, Gregor Chisholm of the Toronto Star reports.
Waguespack is very much on the fringe of the Blue Jays roster, as he's spent four separate stints with the team in this very short season. With a 6.32 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP in 15.2 innings of relief, it's not hard to see why he hasn't nailed down a permanent place on the team. Bo Bichette (knee) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Waguespack was recalled by the Blue Jays on Friday.
Waguespack has bounced between the tax squad and the active roster throughout the season. He's been mediocre when active, posting a 4.85 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP in 13 innings of relief work.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Optioned to taxi squad
Rotowire
Waguespack was optioned off the Blue Jays' roster Tuesday and added to the team's taxi squad.
Waguespack has bounced on and off the roster throughout the season. He's been mediocre when available, posting a 4.85 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP in 13 innings of work, all of which have come out of the bullpen.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Returns to active roster
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Waguespack from their taxi squad ahead of Sunday's game against the Rays.
Waguespack will be available out of the bullpen Sunday after the Blue Jays placed starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Over his eight appearances with the big club this season, Waguespack has posted a 3.97 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB across 11.1 innings.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Dropped from active roster
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Waguespack to their alternate training site Friday.
Waguespack worked 2.1 innings of long relief Thursday in the Blue Jays' 9-8 win over the Phillies in the second game of a doubleheader, tossing 47 pitches in the outing. Due to the heavy workload, Waguespack likely wouldn't have been available for at least the next two days, so the Blue Jays will presumably fill his spot on the active roster with a fresh arm ahead of Friday's series opener in Tampa Bay.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Back with big club
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Waguespack from their alternate training site Wednesday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Toronto demoted Waguespack to their alternate site ahead of Tuesday's 8-7 win in 10 innings, but he'll be eligible to rejoin the big club a day later after Nate Pearson (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. While he's up with Toronto, Waguespack will likely see most of his work out of the bullpen in low-leverage spots.
