Blue Jays use September roster expansion to lengthen bullpen and add to the bench

The Toronto Blue Jays have made their September roster expansion additions official. They've used the extra roster spots to reshape the edges of their roster for the stretch run.

Before opening a crucial series against the Cleveland Guardians (Sept. 1), the Blue Jays added four players to the active roster: left-handers Joe Mantiply and Ricky Tiedemann, infielder Josh Smith and power bat Sean Keys. To make room, Toronto designated outfielder Daz Cameron for assignment after earlier optioning CJ Van Eyk, giving the club the necessary flexibility to use its expanded September roster spots while also activating players returning from the injured list.

The bullpen was going to be an obvious place to add a player or two. Mantiply gives Toronto another experienced left-handed option after working his way back through a rehab assignment. He was having a very effective season for the Blue Jays before the injury. In 17.2 innings, he posted an 8.15 K/9 rate with a 2.04 BB/9 rate. He accumulated a 2.04 ERA with a 2.86 FIP.

Tiedemann, meantime, gets another chance to show he's ready for the majors. The former top prospect is still being managed carefully after a long road back from Tommy John surgery, but his stuff remains intriguing. The prospect shine was starting to dim on Tiedemann, but he's had an incredible bounce back season and this call up says a lot about what the organization still thinks of his potential.

Blue Jays lengthen the bench as well as their bullpen in September call up moves

The position-player moves give manager John Schneider an interesting mix of players to utilize now. Smith, who was acquired ahead of the trade deadline and had been working back from a hamstring issue, gives the Blue Jays another infielder he can use to mix and match depending on the situation and if he gives Toronto anything offensively, it will already be considered a bonus.

Then there is Keys, who may be the most fun addition of the group. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter had already received a brief major-league look earlier this season, but this second opportunity comes after a red-hot stretch in Triple-A Buffalo. Keys hit .370 in August with five doubles, six home runs, 20 RBI, a .478 on-base percentage and a 1.190 OPS. He may not have a perfect position to play at the moment, although he was taking reps in left field, but if his bat stays hot the Blue Jays will find a way to get him in the lineup.

That also helps explain why Cameron became the odd man out. A right-handed hitting outfielder with limited offensive impact had started to feel redundant on this version of the roster. Toronto has more other outfield options, and with September creating a chance to add bullpen length and a hotter bat, Cameron no longer fit as cleanly.

The Blue Jays also added an intriguing power arm in a trade with the Dodgers earlier on Tuesday, (Sept. 1). José Rodriguez, a six-foot-six pitcher who has posted some big strikeout numbers in Triple-A, could also be moved up to the roster at some point.

The Blue Jays begin a crucial three game series against the Guardians in Cleveland on Tuesday and they'll hope to get some extra leverage towards their playoff push out of these recent moves.

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