The Toronto Blue Jays front office was pulling out all the stops today, as the club announced a flurry of
roster moves before their evening game against the Texas Rangers.
The most notable addition was the return of shortstop Bo Bichette, who rejoins the club after a calf strain sent him to the sidelines for a second time this season. Also joining the Blue Jays is outfielder Steward Berrora, as Daulton Varsho heads to the IL with a shoulder strain (retroactive to September 14th).
Ross Atkins and co continued to add relievers via the waiver wire, picking up right-hander Nick Robertson from the Los Angeles Angels and then optioning him to triple-A Buffalo. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Jays placed Will Wagner on the 60-day IL with left knee inflammation.
Bichette returns to the Blue Jays after a lengthy absence, as the two-time All-Star hasn’t suited up since July 19th. The shortstop is returning to his career-worst campaign by the numbers, sporting a .222/.275/.320 slash line with four home runs and 30 RBIs across 306 at-bats. His .595 OPS is in line to be a career low and he currently sits at a 69 OPS+ with just a handful of games left in the season. For tonight’s game, he slots in the two-hole right behind George Springer.
While the Jays don’t have too much to play for, having Bichette back in the lineup boosts the club and the player as Bichette looks to turn things around before October rolls around.
Heading to the IL is Varsho and Wagner, with both players likely done for the season. The former Diamondback is slated for surgery on his rotator cuff as per
Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae and Wagner landed on the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man roster spot for the new pitcher, meaning his season is over.
Varsho finishes the campaign with another stellar defensive year in the books, one that propelled him to a 4.9 bWAR while sporting a .214 average and a .700 OPS. He fell just short of the 20 home run mark (18) and compiled a 97 OPS+, a 13-point improvement over his debut season with the Jays. His work should land him the Gold Glove conversation.
Wagner, who was acquired at the trade deadline as part of the Yusei Kikuchi deal, was a stellar surprise since his mid-August call-up. The lefty batter posted a .305/.337/.451 slash line with six doubles and two home runs en route to a .788 OPS. A solid cup of coffee for the former Astro who will rejoin Toronto next spring in a bid for a roster spot.
Rejoining the Blue Jays is Steward Berrora, who has been riding the options train a few times this season. Likely working off the bench down the stretch, Berrora will look to improve upon his .152 average and .499 OPS.
Last but not least, the Jays added another reliever into the mix in the form of Nick Robertson, who was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels back on September 15th.
A former Dodgers draft pick in 2019, Robertson has bounced around a few teams over the years and made his debut last season for Los Angeles before being moved to the Boston Red Sox midseason. He was part of the Tyler O’Neill trade that saw him head to the St. Louis Cardinals this past winter and landed with the Angels in their minor league camp after being DFA’d by the Cardinals in mid-August.
Through 26 big league outings (one start), Robertson owns a 5.45 ERA and a 1.615 WHIP through 34 2/3 innings of work. He becomes the second Nick Robertson to join a Toronto-based sports team this summer.
