Blue Jays activate Ezequiel Carrera, DFA Junior Lake

The Toronto Blue Jays have activated outfielder Ezequiel Carrera from the 15-day disabled list. Carrera had been recovering from a nagging achilles injury.

In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays designated Junior Lake for assignment.

In 72 games this season, Carrera will soon be passing his career highs in plate appearances and at-bats. His four home runs and 22 RBI also represent careers bests.

With Jose Bautista still on the disabled lust with a knee injury and Kevin Pillar sidelined with a thumb injury, Carrera joins an outfield of Michael Saunders, Melvin Upton Jr., and Darrell Ceciliani. Upton figures to remain in centre-field with Pillar out, but Carrera and Ceciliani should factor in together as a corner-outfield duo.

Carrera was enjoying a breakout season earlier in the year before regressing back towards his career norms, but is still hitting .258 with a .346 on-base percentage. He’s also played stronger defensively than the Blue Jays saw in 2015 and has always had the trust of manager John Gibbons.

Toronto’s roster will tighten further when Bautista and Pillar return, with Ceciliani the clear choice to be left off the roster and Carrera potentially next in line.

In 25 at-bats at the MLB level this season, Lake hit .200 with a home run and a stolen base.