TORONTO – As the Blue Jays’ focus shifts to the future and they prioritize opportunity for younger players, there’s less playing time to go around for veterans such as Curtis Granderson.
Kevin Pillar, Randal Grichuk, Teoscar Hernandez and Billy McKinney are all under team control through 2020 or beyond, so from here on they’ll get regular playing time at the expense of Granderson, now 37 years old and on the brink of free agency.
Manager John Gibbons spoke with Granderson Friday to relay the message that he’ll be getting fewer starts.
“It’ll cut into his playing time now a little bit,” Gibbons said. “I’ll still use him, but we want to see some of those other guys a little more often. It’ll be a juggling act, but I think it’s important that everybody continues to play. Naturally some guys more than others. Somebody’s going to have to sit every now and then.”
Granderson played in 100 of the Blue Jays’ first 127 games, hitting 11 home runs with an above-average 112 OPS+. He has been especially productive against right-handed pitching, but instead of using him as a pinch hitter late in games, Gibbons plans to test his younger players.
“Under the circumstances, you want these guys to play. I don’t think he’ll be hitting for any of them,” Gibbons said. “Because you never know what someone can do unless you give them a chance, right?”
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Even though Granderson’s role has been reduced in Toronto, he could conceivably be traded to a contender before the August 31 deadline for obtaining post-season-eligible players. The Blue Jays are open to the idea of moving Granderson, who drew some interest ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline last month and has reportedly cleared waivers. On paper, Cleveland, Arizona and the New York Yankees could be fits for a left-handed hitting outfielder.
In the meantime, Granderson told his manager he understood reduction in playing time.
“There’s not more of a pro running around this game than Grandy,” Gibbons said.
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GURRIEL JR. AIMS FOR STRONG FINISH
A little more than three weeks after spraining his left ankle, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the Blue Jays’ roster intent on finishing the season strong.
“Of course it’s going to help me a lot, trying to play in as many games as I can,” Gurriel said through interpreter Josue Peley. “I think it’s going to be something that’s really important for me to get as much playing time as I can.”
Gurriel Jr. has also missed time due to a hamstring injury and a concussion in recent years, but he has the chance to build familiarity against big-league pitching down the stretch. If his first 38 MLB games are any indication, the 24-year-old has considerable offensive upside. He hit .322/.340/.503 before hitting the DL, including an active 11-game streak of at least two hits.
“He was playing so good when he got hurt,” Gibbons said. “It’s good to see him back. He’s one of them energetic guys.”
SANCHEZ SIDE GOES WELL
Aaron Sanchez’s Thursday bullpen session went according to plan, so he’s slated to make his first start in more than two months Saturday against the Phillies. After throwing 86 pitches in his final rehab outing, the Blue Jays are comfortable with 90-100 pitches from the right-hander.
“With him because of the injury issues, we’re basically just looking for him to feel good,” Gibbons said.
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