Jay Blue: Encarnacion, Jimenez, Montero, Sanchez

Another rBlue Jays Catcher of the Future -- he gone -- as A.J. Jimenez, shown here at triple-A Buffalo last year, was released. Photo: Jay Blue.

News and Notes: Fifth Starter Edition
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
Quite a lot happened in BlueJaysland and we’ll get you caught up in short order.

By the time you read this, the Blue Jays’ roster decisions will probably have been finalized but we found out today that Aaron Sanchez has been named the club’s fifth starter, beating out Gavin Floyd for the role. Sanchez, of course, has been stellar all spring and while Floyd has been better than expected, Sanchez’s upside and his actual performance probably moved the needle on the “Aaron to the bullpen” talk.

Sanchez needs to start so that we can finally know, once and for all, that he can be a starter in the major leagues. He needs to throw those offspeed pitches to major league hitters and this decision can be an excellent one not only for the young righty’s development but for the club.

While Sanchez was victorious in his quest to be a starter, Drew Hutchison was optioned to Triple-A.

The Jays also claimed catcher/first-baseman Jesus Montero on waivers. The troubled ex-Yankee and ex-Mariner had trouble keeping his weight and his temper in line and also was implicated in the Biogenesis scandal, earning him a 50-game suspension.

To make room for Montero on the 40-man roster, A.J. Jimenez was designated for assignment. I’ve read that Montero isn’t catching anymore so in order to keep him, they’ll likely have to sneak him through waivers too.

Edwin Encarnacion hit a home run at the minor league complex today. Here’s a composite photo.

The Blue Jays also released three minor leaguers: RHP Garrett Pickens, a 29th round pick in 2013 who was at class-A Vancouver last year, IF Rolando Segovia, a free-agent sign from Venezuela, also at Vancouver last year and C-IF Gabriel Cenas, a free agent, who was also in B.C. last summer. Cenas was probably the biggest name of the bunch and got a nice bonus to sign with the Jays as an international free agent.

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The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is coming April 3! Visit the Handbook page for more information!

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