Blue Jays Morning Brew: Bautista, Sanchez, Borucki and Odor

Your Toronto Blue Jays news and notes for Thursday, March 16, 2017.

Sanchez gets the ball:

The Toronto Blue Jays enjoyed an off day yesterday and will resume Grapefruit League action this afternoon when the Jays host the New York Yankees in Dunedin. Aaron Sanchez will take the ball for only the second time this spring as he attempts to improve on his last outing. The ace in the making tossed 1.2 innings surrendering 3 hits and 2 runs during his first tuneup of the spring.

Check today’s Jays Journal content for an in-depth piece coming on Sanchez and the contract debacle that is brewing between his agent and the Blue Jays by Jesse Levine.

Borucki and Smith optioned to minor leagues:

Pitchers Ryan Borucki and Chris Smith were the latest spring training casualties optioned to their respective minor league affiliates who won’t be on the major league roster when the season kicks off on April 03rd. John Gibbons and company need to start trimming the fat from the roster to provide some roster clarity, especially in the bullpen. Check out the full breakdown of the Borucki assignment from Jays Journal contributor Stephen Cheeseman.

Former Jays still looking for work:

Former Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro and infielder Brett Lawrie still remain unsigned at the halfway point of spring training. It appears Lawrie is going to wait until he is completely healthy before searching for a new employer. There has been presumably minimal interest in the veteran backstop as his name has been quiet on the free agent front thus far.

Rougned Odor fails miserably at bat flip:

Blue Jays public enemy #1 Rougned Odor representing Team Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic attempted to do his best Jose Bautista impersonation unfortunately for Odor he didn’t hit the ball out of the ballpark. Instead of flipping the lumber he should have busted it out of the box and ended up on second base instead of first. Better luck next time with the bat flip.

Speaking of Joey Bats:

Bautista made a game-saving toss to peg out a Columbian runner at home plate to enable the Dominican Republic to win the contest in extra innings. Statcast broke down the clutch defensive play from Bautista.

And more Bautista:

WBC teammate Robinson Cano imitated the Blue Jays slugger swing and follow through expression. At least they are having fun on the Dominican team.

Blue Jays new catch phrase:

It’s not “Catch the Taste” but I guess #LetsRise will have to do as the Blue Jays released their latest catch phrase for the 2017 season.

I think they should have dropped the old Roberto Alomar McCain fruit punch advertisement. #CatchTheTaste

Next: Blue Jays: Eric Gagne An Intriguing Fit

That just about does it for your Thursday edition of the Blue Jays Morning Brew.