RealGM

The Toronto Blue Jays front office doesn’t limit themselves to the usual resources to find talent; MLB, MiLB, NCAA, or the draft. This time their experts directed them to the new North American Baseball League.

Right-hander Steven Raburn has signed a minor-league contract and is expected to report to extended spring training by April 5.

In the big scheme of things, this transaction will barely register on anyone’s radar, but these are the kind of transactions where a team can find a diamond in the rough, that one gem that everyone passed up.

The odds are really against Raburn who, will more likely be sent down Vancouver or Bluefield, unless he is released before than. Personally, from experience, you are not on the team until after that final cut, no matter how good you perform!

The Raburn signing is not an isolated incident by any means. Indy stars are littered all over the Majors; Daniel Nava, Max Scherzer, Brendan Donnelly and J.D. Drew just to name a few. It’s not like Raburn appeared out of total obscurity.

Consequently it’s a realistic possibility that Raburn makes the pros and contributes quite nicely.

Raburn compiled a mediocre 5-3 record for three teams in 2010, though two of those decisions came as a member of the Normal CornBelters of the Frontier League, where he was shoring up the bullpen racking up two saves in 14 innings with 13 strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA.