Minor Assignments: Blue Jays Option A Pair

Feb 28, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ryan Goins (2) against the New York Yankees during a spring training game at George Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsOn Thursday morning, we learned that the Toronto Blue Jays had optioned first baseman Lars Anderson to the team’s Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. As Thursday evening rolled around, the team released the news that they had also given assignments to another pair of players.

25-year-old Ryan Goins has been optioned to join Anderson in Buffalo and will likely serve as the Bison’s primary shortstop in 2013. A fourth round pick in 2009, Goins spent the 2011 campaign as a member of the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats where he hit an impressive .289 with a .745 OPS, 7 home runs, and 61 RBI. The Blue Jays thought enough of Goins’s performance that they also gave him a look in the Arizona Fall League as well. Unfortunately, he struggled in Salt River, hitting just .133 with a .356 in 45 plate appearances. We could see Goins later this season if the need requires, but it is hard to see him making a dent on this team with the recent roster moves.

Unlike Goins, 25-year-old Chad Jenkins can say that he now has Major League experience under his belt. The Blue Jays called up the former first round pick (2009, 20th overall) last season and he made his debut on August 7th with 3 innings of scoreless relief against the Rays. Jenkins would finish the season with a 1-3 record over 13 games (3 starts), adding a 4.50 ERA and a 4.5 K/9 ratio. Jenkins will be headed for New Hampshire to start the season, where in 20 games with the Fisher Cats in 2012, he mustered a 5-9 record with a 4.96 ERA and a 4.5 K/9 ratio. It is possible that we could see Jenkins again in 2013, but he will have to improve on his middling strike-out numbers to be effective at the Major League level.

Stay tuned as the Blue Jays continue to whittle the roster down to 25!