Blue Jays option Devon Travis to Buffalo

The Toronto Blue Jays decided to send Devon Travis to Triple-A Buffalo to get things going offensively. With the open spot on the big league roster, they bring up Carlos Ramirez in the corresponding move.

As many Blue Jays fans are aware Devon Travis has been one of the best players on the Jays roster when he can manage to stay healthy. After a Spring Training in which he was one of the most consistent hitters he has not found his stride at the dish. Since then he has just nine hits in 61 at bats, which barely has him above the Mendoza line with .212 batting average.

The Blue Jays are in a position with a stockpile of talented depth that they can afford to go with the hot hand in the lineup every day. At the moment Lourdes Gurriel Jr. appears to be that hot hand and will get a chance to get some regular at-bats while Devon Travis heads to Triple-A to iron out his swing. Travis also had options available on his contract unlike teammates Randal Grichuck who is also struggling. Grichuck would have to be designated for assignment and clear waivers to be sent to Triple-A, and the Blue Jays clearly do not want to lose a talent like him for free.

Travis burst onto the scene for the Blue Jays in 2015 with a home run on Opening Day against the Yankees and continued to impress until he suffered an injury just before the All-Star break that year. In 2016 everything seemed to be back to normal as he played in 101 games and hit .300 while showing some power. He had 11 home runs, 28 doubles, and drove in 50 that season before having another injury.

2017 was a similar story and he played in just 50 games but continued to show that he could be an RBI guy. Over the offseason, the Blue Jays strengthened the entire system by seeking depth. One position they clearly had in mind to fortify was up the middle. Aledmys Diaz, Yangervis Solarte, and Danny Espinosa were brought in to be ready for injuries to Travis and Troy Tulowitzki. This plan has paid off so far in 2018 and will give Devon Travis a chance to get everything right in a lower stress environment.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is slated at second base for today’s series finale against the Texas Rangers. Gurriel hit his first Major League home run yesterday and has been hitting the ball hard in general since a promotion from the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He now has four big league hits and three RBIs after a great start to his season in Double-A. The Blue Jays will get a glimpse of what he can do in hopes that he may become the every day back up for short and second.

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With Devon Travis being sent down to Buffalo, Carlos Ramirez will be joining the Blue Jays bullpen. Last season he made his MLB debut and was great for 16.2 innings. He allowed just six hits in those innings while striking out fourteen. Prior to his promotion last season he threw 37.2 innings in the Minor Leagues without allowing a run. A streak that continued for a few outings with the Blue Jays at the end of the season. So far in 2018 he has only pitched 6 innings and allowed four earned runs on two hits while striking out six.

Ramirez will likely make his 2018 MLB debut today against the Rangers as the Blue Jays bullpen has been burning through innings over the past week. One would guess he will have the task of eating up an inning or two today before the Jays travel to Minnesota to take on the Twins Monday. Devon Travis will report to the Bisons but it has not been announced if he will appear in the lineup against the Pawtucket Red Sox today at 1PM.

Next: Lugnuts are going crazy with the lumber!