Blue Jays Plan For Jose Reyes Return

April 10, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes (7) dives back to first safe in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsAny Toronto Blue Jays fan worth his or her salt has been following the exploits of shortstop Jose Reyes as he rehabs from an ankle injury suffered on April 13th. They have waited with baited breath for his return to the Toronto line-up and coming into Sunday, they thought that wait would be over.

Now they’ll have to wait just a few days more

According to John Lott at the National Post, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos revealed that Reyes will play for Buffalo again on Monday and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

If Reyes were to continue to rehab past Tuesday, Lott indicates that the team could send the shortstop to New Hampshire, keeping Reyes closer to Toronto when the Bisons hit the road and face the Gwinnett (Georgia) Braves on Tuesday. That would indicate that Reyes would be activated on Thursday, just in time for what could be a very important four-game series against the first place Red Sox in Boston.

It would also ensure that Reyes returns to play on natural grass rather than the turf in Tampa Bay.

The Blue Jays decision not to activate Reyes right away seems to be spurred more by Toronto’s recent state of play, which if you haven’t kept up, reached 11 straight wins with a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

Reyes has certainly shown that he is ready to rejoin the team. After 5 games, the 30-year-old has hit .400 with 6 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases. However, it is worth noting that he spent his time on Sunday serving as the Bisons’ designated hitter, which may also have something to do with Toronto’s decision.

Still, that return is just a day or so away, depending on the whims of Anthopoulos and the training staff.

Upon his return, it is speculated that Toronto will option fan favorite Munenori Kawasaki to Triple-A Buffalo, as he has the Minor League option available. However, other candidates such as Dustin McGowan, Neil Wagner, and Emilio Bonifacio, have been bandied about among the pundits and fan base as possibilities as the odd man out.