In a surprise move, the Blue Jays optioned Steve Delabar to Triple-A Buffalo leaving several question marks as well as one angry player.
Watching Delabar’s scrum was actually pretty heartbreaking as he has done little to warrant a demotion. Last year, Delabar’s problem was walking batters, issuing 19 free passes in 25 2/3 major league innings. While he’s given up some runs in spring training, Delabar has only walked one batter in seven innings while striking out nine batters, showing that he has found the strike zone once again.
Many of the team’s beat writers are speculating that this could open the door for both Miguel Castro and Roberto Osuna making the big league team as relievers (which would make Osuna the youngest pitcher in baseball and the youngest to suit up for the Blue Jays) while others suggest that it would allow the Blue Jays to keep either Kyle Drabek or Liam Hendriks who are both out of options (although Drabek might be the more realistic option in this scenario). The other pitcher who might benefit from Delabar’s optioning could be Jeff Francis who has been talked about sticking with the club as a reliever.
Another lefty, Colt Hynes, has been impressing but he still has options left but if the Jays are actually going to bring the best club to Toronto (as opposed to other years where they have given that notion lip service without actually doing so), Osuna could be the man.
In other news, the Blue Jays have announced that both Maicer Izturis and Michael Saunders will be opening the season on the DL, leaving openings for Devon Travis and another outfielder, possibly non-roster invitee Caleb Gindl who has been red hot this spring. While he was being considered as a big leaguer when camp started, Ezequiel Carrera was reassigned to minor league camp as well.
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