Best situation for Blue Jays and Chris Colabello is hitting reset in 2017

The Blue Jays designated Chris Colabello from their 25-man roster and he will stay with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons

Prior to the Blue Jays’ Saturday afternoon game, the club made the expected decision to keep Chris Colabello with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons as his 10-day rehab assignment had ended.

After a quick stint with the advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays where Colabello went 3-for-19 in five games, he homered in his first game with Buffalo. His assignment went downhill from there, though, highlighted by a five strikeout game – the platinum sombrero – on Wednesday.

Between the two levels, Colabello hit .189 and struck out 16 times in 37 at-bats (four walks). Following a home run in his Buffalo debut, there was a real possibility that five games of dominant production could make the Blue Jays’ decision difficult. His struggles made this move a simple one, however, and in the long-term, that should play out just fine for both sides.

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Colabello will turn 33 this October, but having only made his MLB debut at age 29 with the Minnesota Twins, he’s under team control through 2021.

Within the context of this season, Colabello’s playoff ineligibility – another penalty beyond his 80-game suspension after testing positive for DHCMT – leaves him as an illogical fit for the Blue Jays’ 25-man roster. That’s not a knock on Colabello’s game, either. Even if he scorched through his rehab assignment, having him onboard through the playoff run only to be removed come October is a clunky and unideal roster dynamic.

In Colabello’s triple-A teammate Jesus Montero, the former top prospect and current International League All-Star, the Blue Jays have a playoff-eligible bat should injury hit the position. Montero offers very little defensive value, but is hitting .309 with 11 home runs this season and offers enough as an emergency option.

That being said, a relatively clean slate in 2017 should afford Colabello an opportunity to re-establish himself. With the likelihood that Edwin Encarnacion leaves via free agency, Colabello would then be a factor to win a roster spot alongside the recently-extended Justin Smoak who he split the DH/1B position with in 2015.

Prospect Rowdy Tellez will be a factor soon enough, which could come as early as next spring, but regardless, there is room in an organization, somewhere, for player like Colabello. If he can prove his value at the MLB level once again, it’s found money for the Blue Jays. Again. If not, replacement options will be readily available.

Colabello opened the season with the Blue Jays, going just 2-for-29 (.069) in 10 games played. It’s been an unexpected and difficult four months, but with an offseason to exhale, both parties involved should be better off next spring.

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Twitter:  @KeeganMatheson
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