2017 Toronto Blue Jays (est. 2017)

[rpriske]

Hanley Ramirez has bone marrow edema in his knee. He will be out for six weeks.

JUNE AWARDS

PITCHER: Chris Archer, Rays & Max Scherzer, Nationals

HITTER: Nomar Mazara, Rangers & Freddie Freeman, Braves

ROOKIE: Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox & Dansby Swanson, Braves


Ramirez is placed on the D.L.

Sent to AAA: Danny Barnes, Reese McGuire

Called Up: Roberto Osuna, Richard Urena, Rafael Lopez

Designated for Assignment: Glenn Sparkman

[rpriske]

July 1st, 2017

Troy Tulowitzki homered in the 9th to force extra innings but the Red Sox exploded in the 10th to beat the Blue Jays 8-2.

WP - Craig Kimbrel (2-4)
LP - Mike Bolsinger (1-5)

Record - 29-51

[rpriske]

Troy Tulowitzki has demanded a trade.

We worked something out, making the best of it we could, but we were really over a barrel.

TRADE

To ASTROS

Troy Tulowitzki
Jalen Beeks
Reggie Pruitt
Wil Browning

To BLUE JAYS

Yulieski Gurriel
Framber Valdez
Deurys Carrasco
Jandel Gustave (HOU retaining contract)
Jose Cadenas


Followed by...

TRADE

To MARLINS

Mike Bolsinger
Ryan Tepera (TOR retains salary)
Jacob Anderson
Justin Atkinson

To BLUE JAYS

Matt den Dekker
Luis Pintor
Andy Beltre
Dexter Kjerstad
Jeff Brigham

den Dekker, Gurriel and Gustave join the Jays.

Richard Urena is sent to AAA.

[rpriske]

July 2nd, 2017

When the dust settled every starter on each team had at least one hit but the Jays came out the better, beating the Red Sox 10-7.

Colby Rasmus and Jose Bautista hit home runs.

WP - Chad Qualls (2-2)
Save - Ben Rowen (1)
LP - Heath Hembree (1-1)

Record - 30-51

Half-way through the season and thing are going... poorly.

[rpriske]

Jesus Vargas signed a minor league contract.

Players of the Week: Jesus Aguilar, Mariners & Daniel Murphy, Nationals

The Blue Jays have moved up to #26 on the Weekly Power Rankings.

[rpriske]

July 3rd, 2017

The Blue Jays rode a strong performance by J.A. Happ to edge the Yankees 2-1.

WP - J.A. Happ (4-8)
Save - Roberto Osuna (10)
LP - Masahiro Tanaka (10-3)

Record - 31-51

[rpriske]

July 4th, 2017

The Yankees had a fireworks display planned but the rain put a damper on that. It didn't dampen the spirits of the fans, though, as they beat the Jays 6-1.

WP - Tommy Layne (2-3)
LP - Marcus Stroman (5-7)

Record - 31-52

[rpriske]

The Jays made a couple of International signings.

Hector Lucero, a 16-year old catcher from the Dominican. He could be a dominant hitter. Toronto paid $3.7m.

Ariel Ovando, a 16-year old outfielder from the Dominican. Much lower upside than Lucero. Toronto paid $1m.

[rpriske]

July 5th, 2017

Roberto Osuna blew the save in the 9th (and left with strained abdominal muscle in the 10th), but Colby Rasmus hit a solo shot in the 14th to give Toronto a 7-6 win over the Yankees.

Yulieski Gurriel was a single shy of the cycle.

James Shields seemed to be limping as he left the field after the game.

WP - Jandel Gustave (3-2)
Save - James Shields (1)
LP - Jonathan Holder (5-3)

Record - 32-52

NOTE: Neither Osuna nor Shields require D.L. time, just rest.

[rpriske]

July 6th, 2017

The Jays snuck past the Astros, beating them 4-3.

Jon Jay and Josh Donaldson hit back-to-back homers.

WP - Chad Qualls (3-2)
Save - Joe Biagini (4)
LP - Collin McHugh (4-7)

Record - 33-52

[rpriske]

July 7th, 2017

Despite homers by Devon Travis and Yulieski Gurriel, the Jays fell to the Astros, 6-3.

WP - Chris Devenski (9-3)
LP - James Shields (2-7)

Record - 33-53

[rpriske]

J.A. Happ is placed on waivers and Designated for Assignment.

Rafael Lopez is sent to AAA.

Matt Dermody and Reese McGuire are called up.

[rpriske]

TRADE

To INDIANS

Blake McFarland
Rafael Lopez (TOR retains salary)
Framber Valdez
Larry Alcime

To BLUE JAYS

Perci Garner
Junior Soto
Yu-Cheng Chang
Keegan Curtis
Shane Bieber

All are in the minors.

Jandal Gustave is sent to AAA.

T.J. House is called up.

[rpriske]

July 8th, 2017

T.J. House pitched well in his firs touting as part of the Toronto rotation, but the Jays fell short, losing 5-3 to the Astros.

Steve Pearce hit his 6th homer.

WP - Brad Peacock (3-1)
Save - Ken Giles (11)
LP - T.J. House (0-1)

Record - 33-54

[rpriske]

The All-Star Voting is in and Blue Jays were elected to the AL team at two positions: Hanley Ramirez at 1B and Jose Bautista in RF.

Of course Ramirez is injured and will not be able to participate.

No other Jays were selected so Bautista will be their only representative.

[rpriske]

July 9th, 2017

The Jays are going it not eh All-Star Break on the heels of a loss, falling 7-4 to the Astros.

Jose Bautista hit his 19th homer.

Jon Jay hurt himself on a defensive play. Hopefully the break will be enough recuperation time.

WP - Brady Rodgers (6-4)
Save - Ken Giles (12)
LP - Marcus Stroman (5-8)

Record - 33-55

[rpriske]

Leonardo Sanchez and Zach Becherer signed minor league contracts.

Jon Jay has a strained hamstring and is heading to the D.L for about four weeks.


TRADE

To ASTROS

Darrell Ceciliani
Kevin Pillar
Ryan McBroom
Matt Dean

To BLUE JAYS

Jason Martin
Evan Gattis (HOU retaining some salary)
Derek Fisher
Julio Garcia
Eric Peterson

Gattis joins the Jays.
Jon Jay goes on the D.L.

[rpriske]

Hunter Alexander was named Player of the Week for the DSL.

For the bigs it was Francisco Mejia, Indians & Hunter Pence, Giants

[rpriske]

The All-Star Game was in Toronto... too bad the Jays had such a poor presence there.

The NL beat the AL 10-2.

Matt Wieters of the National was named MVP.

Jose Bautista started and played RF for 7 innings, going 0 for 2 with a walk.

[rpriske]

Chris Ianetta signed a minor league contract.

Yovani Gallardo is activated from the D.L.

James Shields is Designated for Assignment.

J.A. Happ is granted his release.