Veteran reliever off the roster
TORONTO (CP) — A cardboard box, some cleats and a few drycleaned shirts were all that remained at Jason Grilli’s stall in the Toronto Blue Jays’ locker-room Tuesday afternoon.
The veteran reliever’s nameplate had been removed, replaced with a scribbled message that read “Stay in the fight !!!! ”
The Blue Jays will continue their battle to get back to the playoffs without Grilli, who played a key role in Toronto’s run to the final four last year but struggled mightily this season.
He was designated for assignment before Toronto’s night game against the Baltimore Orioles, ending his 13-month run with the team.
“This will hopefully give him a fresh start somewhere else,” said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. “Maybe he’ll go somewhere and do for somebody what he did for us last year. “He really saved us last year.” The Blue Jays acquired the sixfoot-five right-hander last May from the Atlanta Braves and he took advantage of his opportunity. Grilli was effective in high-leverage situations and took over the setup role ahead of closer Roberto Osuna.
But the 40-year-old couldn’t dupli- cate that success this season. Ryan Tepera and Joe Smith were more effective bridging the gap to Osuna and Grilli essentially became a pitcher without a role.
When he did make high-leverage appearances in 2017, the results were often shaky. The final straw was likely a blown save last Friday in Kansas City, when Grilli gave up a two-run walkoff double to the lone batter he faced.
Grilli was 2-4 with a 6.97 earnedrun average in 26 appearances this season. Last season, he had a 6-4 mark with the Blue Jays and a 3.64 ERA.
Opposing players were hitting at a .279 clip off him this season, well up from a .206 average in 2016. Grilli allowed eight homers over 42 innings in Toronto last year but gave up nine dingers in just 20 2/3 frames this year.
Gibbons said Grilli told him he understood the team’s decision.
“He said it wasn’t his first time,” Gibbons said. “But Grilli has done a lot for us. He’s one of the good guys and that always makes it doubly tough. But he plans to keep going. Maybe somebody will grab him.
“We’ll see what happens. But those kind (of moves) are always tough. Extra tough.”
Grilli wasn’t available for comment Tuesday but he did weigh in on Twitter.
“It’s only been about a year but there were so many incredible memories made in and with #Toronto,” he said in a tweet capped with a blue heart emoji.
In addition to the Grilli move, the Blue Jays optioned outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. to triple-A Buffalo, recalled right-hander Chris Smith and reinstated outfielder Ezequiel Carrera from the disabled list.