Smith prefers to stay with Jays
Reliever named in trade rumours
Reliever Joe Smith, one player rumoured to be highly sought after and possibly on the trading block, has made it known that if he has his way, he’d stay with the Toronto Blue Jays for at least the rest of the season.
“Of course I’d like to stay here,” the side-winding righty said. “I love the people here; the guys in the clubhouse are unbelievable, the organization has treated me unbelievable, they’ve actually helped me a ton going back to spring training and getting my body just to be able to move the way I have been and help me get back and have a bounce-back year, so to speak.
“I enjoy it here. I enjoy Gibby (manager John Gibbons) and (pitching coaches) Pete (Walker) and Dane (Johnson) and everybody here,” he added. “It’s a good environment. Obviously I wish the season was going a bit different, but it’s kind of how baseball goes.”
Smith signed a one-year, US$3-million contract with the Jays and became the club’s setup man. He was put on the DL June 19 with shoulder inflammation and recently returned, though Gibbons said he isn’t quite ready to return to the setup role. That job has gone to Ryan Tepera and Joe Biagini. But once Smith is 100 per cent, he’ll assume that spot. He has been a major contributor and is 3-0 with a 3.48 ERA.
PRODUCTION NEEDED
Gibbons isn’t ruling out his team going on a major run and possibly getting back in the wild card race.
“Everybody’s got to contribute,” he said. “You need them all. We’ve painted ourselves in a corner. We really haven’t had that streak. But they all got to pitch in. It’s all got to come together.”
The manager acknowledged that his club has to tighten up defensively.
LOVE FOR MORALES
Gibbons doesn’t feel it’s fair that many Jays fans compare Kendrys Morales’ stats with those of former Blue Jay Edwin Encarnacion, who signed with Cleveland. Encarnacion has hit 21 home runs with an OBP of .377 and 59 RBI. Morales has an OBP of .308 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs. The numbers are close, but Morales seems to be a target for frustrated fans.
“You can’t point fingers at anybody,” Gibbons said. “We haven’t played good enough as a team. But he’s dangerous. I think the longer he’s here, the better he’s going to be. He’s been streaky. Any time you come into a new place it takes a while to settle in . ... But he’s had some big hits along the way for us, too.”
TRADE RUMOURS
The Kansas City Royals are reportedly “in talks” with the Jays about pitcher Francisco Liriano, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Kansas City has been rumoured to be looking at starters even after striking a deal to add Trevor Cahill from the Padres.
The club may also have some interest in Toronto pitcher Marco Estrada, said Chris Cotillo of SB Nation.