September 2, 2020

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

Emerging as one of the more active teams across Major League Baseball after acquiring five players in the span of a week leading up to Monday's non-waiver trade deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays were forced to make a series of roster moves prior to opening up a quick two-game set against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

Joining the team in Miami is INF Johnathan Villar and LHP Robbie Ray, both of which will be active for Tuesday's game.

On the other hand, 1B/DH Daniel Vogelbach, INF Brandon Drury, and RHP Sam Gaviglio were all designated for assignment in order to clear up roster spots for Toronto's incoming talent. Ross Stripling will take the third roster opening when he joins the club later this week.

In four games with Toronto this season, Gaviglio allowed three earned runs on three hits, walking five and striking out one batter across three innings. Through parts of three seasons as a member of the Blue Jays, the 30-year-old native of Ashland, Ore., posted a 7-13 record alongside a WHIP of 1.331 in 82 games.

Acquired alongside OF Billy McKinney in the deal that sent LHP J.A. Happ to the Bronx at the deadline in 2018, Drury has posted a cumulative slash line of .208/.253/.353 with 40 extra-base-hits throughout 490 at-bats in Toronto. A 13th-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2010, the 27-year old saw time at five defensive positions during his tenure with the Blue Jays, failing to establish any sort of consistency at the plate over parts of three seasons.

One of the five players dealt for in the days leading up to Monday's 4:00 PM cut off, Vogelbach appeared in just two games with Toronto prior to being designated on Tuesday. An All-Star in 2019, the Florida native has slashed .195/.325/.395 with 36 home runs over parts of five MLB seasons dating back to his rookie debut in 2016.

All three of the departing players are now available to any big-league club interested in their services. The Blue Jays will have seven days in which they can either work out a trade with another club or place them on outright waivers. If no opposing club is interested, Toronto will then have the opportunity to send them to the minor leagues or release them all together.

In addition to the DFA's, RHP Jacob Waguespack has been optioned to the club's alternate training site and was subsequently added to Toronto's taxi squad. The Blue Jays on-site reserves now consist of C Alejandro Kirk, C Caleb Joesph, RHP Patrick Murphy, and Waguespack, who has now been optioned three times in 2020.

NAMED NOW

The Blue Jays also announced two of their three outgoing players to be named later on Tuesday.

Heading to Seattle as part of the Taijuan Walker deal is Alberto Rodriguez, a left-handed swinging outfielder who posted an OPS of .786 across 47 games with the Gulf Coast Blue Jays as an 18-year-old in 2019.

A second-round draft pick last June, RHP Kendall Williams is the player going the other way in yesterday's deal for Ross Stripling. In six games with the Gulf Coast Blue Jays in 2019, the 6-foot-6 product of Olive Branch, Miss., struck out 19 batters while allowing seven walks and an earned run average of 2.25 across 16 frames.

WARD C

Speaking with the media ahead of Tuesday's opener, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo provided updates on the club's Injured List.

- INF Bo Bichette (knee) took ground balls and did some light sprinting on Tuesday. A firm timeline for his return has yet to be established.

- RHP Matt Shoemaker (shoulder) played catch from 105 feet.

- RHP Nate Pearson (elbow) played catch from 120 feet and should throw his first bullpen since landing on the IL in the coming days.

- RHP Trent Thornton (elbow) underwent a successful procedure to remove "loose bodies" from his right elbow. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training, 2021.

-Follow Andrew Hendriks on Twitter (@77hendriks)