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Moves: Happ to DL, Sanchez nail clipped, Kelly promoted

RHP Aaron Sanchez had a piece of his finger nail removed in Kansas City. 

By Andrew Hendriks
Canadian Baseball Network

Although the Toronto Blue Jays brass insists that J.A. Happ’s elbow inflammation is only a minor setback, the veteran southpaw was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday and subsequently replaced on the 25-man roster by utility man Ty Kelly in advance of Toronto’s series opener against Boston.

Kelly, 28, has appeared in a total of 40 MLB games since making his big league debut as a member of the New York Mets in 2016. Having subbed in defensively at first, second, third and all three outfield positions at various points throughout the last two seasons, the former 13th round draft pick (2009) has slashed .237/.347/.339 in 72 career plate appearances at the Major League level.

Designated for assignment by the Mets on April 8, Toronto claimed the versatile utility man two days later and immediately dispatched him to Buffalo. In two games with the Bisons, Kelly picked up a pair of hits in eight at-bats before being recalled.

Happ’s DL stint is retroactive to April 17th and, if all goes as expected, the 2016 20-game winner should be clear to rejoin the team at some point during their upcoming interleague series against St. Louis later this month.

DAY CASE
Having officially hit the disabled list on Sunday, RHP Aaron Sanchez underwent a successful procedure to have part of the nail removed on his right middle finger in Kansas City on Monday.

Despite having been subjected to minor surgery, the Blue Jays expect Sanchez to resume his throwing program in a few days. He too should require no more than the 10 days needed to complete his current DL stint.

Further roster adjustments will need to be made between now and the weekend set in Anaheim as Toronto will have to dip back into the minors in order to produce a couple of starters capable of taking the hill in Happ and Sanchez’s absence.

Former big league rotation arms in Mat Latos, Casey Lawrence, T.J. House, Mike Bolsinger and Brett Oberholtzer round out the list of candidates who could be considered for promotion.

BACK AGAIN
Designated for assignment in order to clear a roster spot on the 40-man roster for Chris Coghlan on Friday, Juan Graterol has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

Graterol, 28, made his MLB debut and appeared in 14 games with the Angels last season, batting .286 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs during his brief stint in the majors. 

- Follow Andrew Hendriks on Twitter @77hendriks