The Toronto Blue Jays have released reliever Pop after he was designated for assignment, following elbow inflammation that would have sidelined him for the regular season. Initially acquired in a mid-2022 trade, Pop had a solid start with a 1.89 ERA but faced significant challenges over the past two seasons, including a poor 5.59 ERA in 2022 and 11 runs in 2023. While he showed strong ground-ball rates, his inability to limit home runs has been problematic. Once cleared for health, he may seek a minor league contract.
The Blue Jays released reliever Pop after designating him for assignment due to elbow inflammation, marking a downturn since his promising debut in 2022.
Even after starting strong in 2022 with a 1.89 ERA, Pop struggled with performance, highlighted by a 5.59 ERA and nine home runs in 48 1/3 innings.
Pop's injury history and poor performanceâhighlighted by 11 runs in 13 2/3 innings in 2023âcontributed to his release, though he may attract minor league offers.
His struggle to secure outs when batters elevated the ball, evidenced by a high home run rate, underscores his decline following an initially strong start.
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