Blue Jays announce bullpen shakeup after another collapse

The carousel that is the Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen continues to spin as the 2024 season dwindles down to its final days. Not that it really matters who Toronto has coming out of the bullpen at the end of this lost season, but another bullpen collapse on Tuesday has spurred more roster moves.

With just four games remaining on the schedule, the team announced yet another roster shuffle ahead of the the series finale with the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The Blue Jays have recalled right-hander Brett de Geus from Triple-A with right-hander Tommy Nance optioned to the team's Spring Training Complex in Dunedin.

The Jays claimed De Geus, 26, off waivers from the Miami Marlins on Sept. 12, an uninspiring move to say the least. He only appeared in three games for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons before their season ended, but the results from the small sample size were enough to warrant a look at the big league level for a Jays team that is playing out the string. DeGeus didn't allow a run in three innings in Buffalo, giving up three hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Before joining the Blue Jays, De Geus posted a 6.35 ERA in 5 2/3 innings for the Marlins, with four strikeouts and a pair of walks. He also threw 3 1/3 innings with the Seattle Mariners this season, giving up one run with two punchouts before moving to Miami.

Nance, 33, is the latest casualty of the late-season turnover. After pitching in back-to-back games against the Red Sox and three of the last four days, the Blue Jays obviously felt the need for a fresh arm. He was also a big part of Tuesday's collapse, giving up three runs in the 10th inning and taking the loss after another impressive Bowden Francis outing.

Nance got off to a solid start in Toronto after being acquired for cash from the San Diego Padres on Aug. 7, posting a 2.87 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over his first 15 2/3 innings. However, since Sept. 9, the righty has had an unsightly 7.11 ERA and 2.05 WHIP in 6 1/3 innings, with opposing batters hitting .321 with an 18.2 percent barrel rate.