R.A. Dickey expects Josh Thole will return to the Toronto Blue Jays, but says he’s comfortable with the team’s contingency options if his personal catcher signs elsewhere.
Thole elected free agency Tuesday, one day after being designated for assignment so his immediate future with the Blue Jays is up in the air.
“I’m sure if Josh does not sign back, Erik Kratz is down there in triple-A and he has experience catching me and [Russell Martin] has done a phenomenal job when he’s been up catching me,” Dickey told Dean Blundell & Co. on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Wednesday. “My hope, of course, is that Josh comes back. We have a lot of history together and he’s actually starting to play really well, even offensively he’s contributed in the games I’ve been a part of.
“My hope is that he’ll come back and it’s my expectation that he will but you never know. That’s why when you become a free agent. That little bit of leverage that you have is to explore opportunities for yourself but I don’t know if he’ll get a better one than what’s waiting for him right here.”
Thole lost his roster spot after the Blue Jays traded for Dioner Navarro, who can also catch Dickey. If Thole does re-sign with Toronto by Wednesday’s deadline, he’ll be eligible for the playoffs as long as he remains in the organization from here on.
The Blue Jays are two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox atop the A.L. East standings heading into Wednesday’s action and appear in strong position to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Dickey, 41, said he likes what management has done in recent months, but added he and his teammates often discuss other moves the Blue Jays could or should make.
“We talk, especially some of the older guys, some of the veteran guys. You always, just to pass the time, you play GM quite a bit,” Dickey explained. “You try not to do it too much because it’s a little bit above your pay grade but at the same time you’re always looking to make the team better. What can we do? Outside of playing better ourselves, what can we add that might help us get to that next place?
“The great thing about our team is we’ve done all the things we’ve talked about. We added a starting pitcher (Francisco Liriano), we’ve added a couple relievers (Jason Grilli, Joaquin Benoit), we’ve added a position player (Melvin Upton Jr.) that we thought would help us, so we’re in a good position.”
Dickey, 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 27 starts this season, mentioned he doesn’t think the Blue Jays need to do anything dramatic with the roster down the stretch and into the post-season.
“I think if I was the general manager I would just get off the tracks and let the train go,” Dickey said. “I don’t think you’ve seen the best of Brett Cecil. I think the back end of our bullpen with “Grilled Cheese” (Grilli) down there and Osuna is good. We’ve got a lineup that’s really good when we’re all playing healthy. When you’ve got a healthy Devon Travis and a healthier Jose Bautista in there, I would just step out of the way and let the guys go.”
The Blue Jays finish up their three-game road series with the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday.
With files from Ben Nicholson-Smith
