Villanueva scratched from start
Won’t pitch vs. Twins, Jays days could be over
During this final homestand of the season, Carlos Villanueva is trying to soak up what could be his last days in a Blue Jays uniform.
“I tried the last couple of days, whoever wants my autograph — even if they might not know who I am, some of them — to just give it out and just show some type of appreciation.”
Jays fans won’t have much of an opportunity to return the favour after Villanueva, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season, was scratched from his final start, scheduled for Tuesday against the visiting Minnesota Twins. Rookie Chad Jenkins will pitch in his place.
Manager John Farrell said Villanueva was replaced due to fatigue, but the 28-year-old Dominican said he felt fine and appeared to have a different take on the decision.
“They said they wanted to get another look at (Jenkins), and you know, I’m on board with that.”
It’s a curious move given the effect the outing could have had on Villanueva’s market value, good or bad, and how it might affect off-season negotiations with the right-hander.
The change was announced before Monday’s 6-5 extra-innings victory over the Twins, which was played in front of an announced crowd of just 12,359, the smallest at the Rogers Centre this year.
The game was decided by a trio of Jays rookies. First, Yan Gomes cranked a pinch-hit solo homer to tie the game with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Then Anthony Gose scored Adeiny Hechavarria to win the game on a walk-off single in the 10th.
What the Jays do with Villanueva remains one of their bigger off-sea- son questions. He is a valuable swingman out of the bullpen who is effective in long relief and can be counted on to make spot starts. But he has also made clear his desire to start for a full season and will likely make that a priority in any contract negotiations. Villanueva started this season in the Jays’ bullpen, but was pressed into starting duty in June after the rotation was decimated by injuries. He was arguably the club’s most consistent starter through July and August, going 4-2 with a 3.04 ERA in his first eight starts. But in his next eight starts he went 1-5 with a 6.04. He finishes this year with a 7-7 record and 4.16 ERA. Villanueva admitted he was dis- appointed with how his season ended, but he’s still satisfied with his performance overall. “Looking at the body of work over the whole season, I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish and I’m very grateful for the opportunity and the support that everybody provided, the fans, the organization, (the media), so I’m satisfied.”