Blue Jays designate Ramirez, option Gurriel and promote McGuire

The Toronto Blue Jays revolving door continued yesterday as the team designated reliever Carlos Ramirez for assignment while also optioning Lourdes Gurriel Jr. back to the minors and promoting pitcher Deck McGuire in a trifecta of roster moves ahead of yesterday’s contest.

The designation of Carlos Ramirez comes somewhat as a surprise as the young reliever forced the Jays hand last season with a dominant scoreless innings streak in the minors. Ramirez would eventually make his MLB debut as a September call-up appearing in 12 games and sporting a respectable 2.70 earned run average while fanning 14 in 16.2 innings of work.

He had a setback in spring training that delayed his start to the 2018 campaign however he made two appearances out of the bullpen for the Jays surrendering a run in 2.1 innings on the bump.

Along with the Ramirez designation the brain trust also optioned infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. back to the minors. The young Cuban hit the ground running initially but had slumped of late hitting.206 in 20 games. The addition of Gio Urshela sealed the fate for Gurriel who will return to the minors to further hone his craft and wait for another opportunity north of the border.

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The moves freed up some roster space for the Blue Jays to promote pitcher Deck McGuire. This is the hurler’s second kick at the cat with the Jays after making his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds last season. McGuire was effective in his only two starts at the big league level going 1-1 with a 2.63 earned run average in 13.2 innings pitched.

The former first rounder will attempt to capitalize on this MLB audition with the team that drafted him. So far in Buffalo, McGuire is 3-1 with a 2.70 earned run average while fanning 27 in 5 games this far with the herd.

Next: Blue Jays: Predicting the lineup by the time August rolls around

Tons of tinkering and jockeying going on with the roster as the Jays attempt to manoeuvre around some key injuries and demotions on the young season.