The Toronto Blue Jays transferred infielder Brett Lawrie to the 60-day disabled list in a move that means the third baseman’s season is over.
In need of 40-man roster space for their nine September call-ups, the Blue Jays also designated outfielder Darin Mastroianni and infielder Matt Hague for assignment while releasing reliever Neil Wagner.
Lawrie played in 70 games for the Blue Jays, batting .247/.301/.421 with 12 home runs. He fractured a finger June 22 and returned August 5 only to return to the disabled list with an oblique strain.
Lawrie, who will be arbitration eligible for the first time during the 2014-15 off-season, has battled injuries in each of the last three seasons, never appearing in more than 125 games. He has generated at least 1.3 wins above replacement in each of the last four seasons thanks in large part to his glove.
The Blue Jays called up nine players Tuesday to take advantage of expanded rosters teams are permitted in September. The team re-instated Brandon Morrow and Dan Johnson from the disabled list, recalled Ryan Goins, Anthony Gose, Kendall Graveman, Sean Nolin and Daniel Norris and selected the contracts of Dalton Pompey and George Kottaras.
The Blue Jays note that Pompey, a Mississauga, Ont., native, and Kottaras, a product of Scarborough, Ont., will become the 19th and 20th Canadians to appear in an MLB game for Toronto.
