DUNEDIN, FLA.—The Blue Jays don’t have room for pitcher Mat Latos, but the veteran won’t be too far away.
Just prior to the Jays’ night game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Latos notified the club that he’s willing to report to Triple-A Buffalo, in line for a call-up if there’s an injury in the big-league rotation. The 29-year-old right-hander could have looked elsewhere for a major-league job, but felt the Jays had more to offer.
Latos, who signed a minor-league contact that would pay him $1.5 million if he made the major-league roster, was second on the Jays with 14 2/3 innings pitched this spring. But he also allowed a team-high five homers and eight walks.
The battle for the final two spots in the Jays bullpen is now down to three: Aaron Loup, Mike Bolsinger, and Ryan Tepera. Expectations are that Bolsinger will get the nod, largely because he’s out of minor-league options, while Tepera isn’t.
“We’re still up in the air there. It’s going to go down to the wire,” Gibbons said about the bullpen choices, which could remain unsettled heading into a pair of weekend exhibition games against the Pirates in Montreal.
In other Jays news:
- Gibbons confirmed right-handed reliever Bo Schultz will seek a second opinion on Tuesday from a New York doctor while battling an elbow injury.
- Outfielder Jose Bautista will be attending his brother’s wedding this weekend and isn’t expected to join the team in Montreal.
- Second baseman Devon Travis will stay and work out in Florida, also missing the Montreal trip. Gibbons said the team doesn’t want Travis — who has spent most of spring training rehabbing and strengthening his right knee — playing on the turf at Olympic Stadium.
- In his first action since the World Baseball Classic, closer Roberto Osuna gave up a two-run homer — after a Josh Donaldson error — in the fifth inning of Monday night’s game against the Phillies.
