Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Blue Jays Announce Move On Former Top Yankees Prospect

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated May 8, 2025 8:49 AM ET

If the Toronto Blue Jays intend to turn things around, they likely won’t be handing the ball to Dillon Tate anytime soon.

Toronto optioned Tate, who turned 31 on May 1, to Triple-A Buffalo before Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Tate posted a 5.06 ERA and an ugly 7-6 K-BB ratio over 5.1 innings with the Blue Jays.

Tate fared much better in the minors, notching a 1.50 ERA and seven strikeouts against one walk in six innings.

It’s been a rough few years for Tate, who recorded a 3.05 ERA and 1.2 bWAR for the 2022 Baltimore Orioles. However, he missed all of 2023 with right forearm and flexor issues, and he gave the Orioles a 4.59 ERA and -0.1 bWAR in 29 games last season.

Tate allowed two runs in 3.1 innings for the Blue Jays last September, and Toronto re-signed him during spring training.

The 2015 No. 4 pick, Tate is 7-14 with a 4.11 ERA over 221 big-league innings. Tate ranked No. 4 in the Texas Rangers’ system before joining the New York Yankees in the 2016 Carlos Beltrán trade.

Tate subsequently climbed through the Yankees’ farm system, placing as high as No. 11 before the 2018 season. However, Baltimore acquired Tate at that year’s trade deadline for All-Star closer Zack Britton and later moved him to the bullpen.

Given the Yankees’ bullpen issues, we’ll see if Tate winds up in pinstripes later this summer.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: