Blue Jays option Ryan Goins to Buffalo Bisons, Adam Lind likely on his way back
The Toronto Blue Jays first survived a 19-inning game with the Detroit Tigers, then started making the inevitable roster moves that would be expected of a team having just emptied both its bench and its bullpen.
The first move came following Sunday’s contest, when the Blue Jays optioned second baseman Ryan Goins to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, according to an official team release via Twitter. A corresponding roster move will be announced prior to Monday’s game in Seattle.
This was hardly a surprise, as the Blue Jays are faced with a couple of roster crunches in the week to come. Adam Lind is expected to be activated prior to Monday’s game against the Mariners, which will likely be the reciprocal move the Blue Jays mentioned. However, with the bullpen throwing 15 and 2/3 innings on Sunday, we can also expect them to make another move for a fresh arm.
Goins experienced a big lift when he received the call back to Toronto on July 22nd, slashing .324/.324/.432 and 8 RBI in his first 10 games back with the big club. However, things went back to normal in August, when the 26-year-old dipped to .130/.130/.130 and just 2 RBI in 8 games since. His struggles were further exasperated by taking zero walks and striking out 14 times in 64 plate appearances since July 22nd.
The open roster spot will likely go to the returning Adam Lind. Lind has not appeared in a game since July 7th, having missed the last month with a fracture in his foot. The Blue Jays, who have badly missed Lind and his .320/.389/.489 slash-line in the middle of the line-up, are also expected to see the return of Edwin Encarnacion before the end of the week.
UPDATE The Blue Jays have recalled Brad Mills from Buffalo in order to provide a fresh arm for the bullpen. This means another move is still likely to come on Monday, when the Blue Jays are expected to activate Lind, courtesy of The Star’s Brendan Kennedy.