Blue Jays: Time to make a switch with Bradley Zimmer’s roster spot

Switch Him Out for a AAA Player

Right now, there are a few players standing out on the Buffalo Bisons who could take Zimmer’s spot on the roster from a positional player standpoint.

Nathan Lukes has had a solid start to the year, leading the team with nine doubles while also posting one of the top batting averages on the club at .330 to go along with his .804 OPS. Lukes has split his time between all three outfield positions but does have more reps in centre and right field compared to left, with one error charged to him in centre field. He would require a 40-man roster spot, which would be cleared up with Zimmer being DFA’d.

LJ Talley has also been playing well to begin the 2022 season, posting a .317/.377/.381 slash line through 63 at-bats. He has spent most of the season at third base and only has one error through 67.0 innings as well as some starts at first base as well, so he could provide some additional infield depth should the club decide to keep Biggio down the minor leagues for an extended period of time. Talley would also require a 40-man roster spot should the Jays consider promoting him.

Lastly, the Blue Jays could decide to give Logan Warmoth a shot at the big league level, as the former first-round pick back in 2017 has one of the top OPS numbers on the Bisons roster this season at .902. Warmoth has 19 hits through 68 at-bats and is second on the team in RBI (15) and has even strikeouts to walks with 13 apiece. Now in the outfield, Warmoth has one error in right field this season with a couple of starts in centre field as well. A 40-man roster spot is required for Warmoth.

The Blue Jays acquired Bradley Zimmer earlier this season but the outfielder has struggled so far, potentially requiring a replacement in the near future.

I wouldn’t consider bringing up Otto Lopez yet as he started the year on the IL and only has a handful of games under his belt this year. The same goes for Jordan Groshans, although the top prospect is hitting the ball really well through his small sample size.

Samad Taylor is another call-up option but could be too soon considering he has struck out in 25% of his at-bats (22 strikeouts compared to 21 hits as well). Top prospect Gabriel Moreno will most likely replace a catcher on the roster, as the club will potentially have three already on the squad when Jansen returns in the next week or so, prompting a more difficult decision in the near future rather than replacing Zimmer.