The Toronto Blue Jays placed Adam Lind on outright waivers the day after they sent him down to triple-A, Sportsnet’s Mike Wilner confirms.
Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com broke the news on Saturday via Twitter.
Once a player is placed on outright waivers another team can claim them without any compensation going the other way. However, the team that claims the player would be responsible for honouring the remainder of that player’s current contract.
In the case of Lind, according to the report’s author Danny Knobler, two major league sources said he showed up on the waiver wire Friday.
The 28-year-old first baseman’s contract calls for him to be paid $5 million in 2012 and in 2013 with three club options guaranteeing him another $3.5 million.
Story on Blue Jays putting Adam Lind on outright waivers, a day after optioning him to Triple-A: cbsprt.co/J5t4eD
— DKnobler (@DKnobler) May 19, 2012
During a Thursday afternoon conference call, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos gave no indication the organization was ready to part ways with Lind.
“You don’t really ever know what’s going to work,” he said of the decision to demote Lind. “I’d love to be able to tell everybody that if Adam goes down to the minor leagues for X amount of days or weeks or months, problem solved, he’ll come back and win the Silver Slugger. Obviously there are no guarantees there. But we’re going to make every attempt as an organization to do everything we can do try to get him right.”
Lind, who has three home runs and a line of .186/.273/.314/.586 in 118 at-bats with Toronto this season, has yet to report to Las Vegas, but the Blue Jays said on Thursday they expected him to do so by Sunday.
Remember how I said Lind on outright waivers would likely not be confirmed? I just confirmed it with a very reliable source #Bluejays#jays
— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590) May 19, 2012
Also on Thursday, Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie began serving his four-game suspension following his altercation with umpire Bill Miller earlier in the week.
When Lind was sent down, utility infielder Yan Gomes came up in his place, initially to take over third in Lawrie’s absence, but Gomes has also seen time this season with Las Vegas at first base and catcher.
With Lawrie’s suspension due to end at the conclusion of Sunday’s game, Blue Jays manager John Farrell has hinted that further roster moves could be made in time for Monday’s game.
The #Marlins are likely to discuss Adam Lind, who the #BlueJays placed on outright waivers Friday, but don’t look … sulia.com/my_thoughts/3a…
— Juan C. Rodriguez (@JCRMarlinsbeat) May 20, 2012