DUNEDIN, Fla. – Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons described Mat Latos’s most recent work as solid but the right-hander remains part of a logjam for the final open spot in the bullpen.
Latos allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits, one of them a Greg Bird homer, over three innings of work in a 6-5 loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday. Asked Sunday about what the next steps for him are, Gibbons replied vaguely, "we’ll see."
"He’ll keep pitching and there are some things that are going to go down to the wire," he added.
The Blue Jays want to keep Latos around to serve as a potential sixth starter if needed, but Ryan Tepera and Dominic Leone have both made strong cases to win the final job in the bullpen. Both have options, which hurts their case, while Mike Bolsinger, who is out of options, can also serve as a potential swingman.
Latos is in camp on a minor-league deal that guarantees him $1.5 million if he makes the club.
[snippet id=3305549]
—
PEARCE PROGRESSES: Steve Pearce played his first game of the spring in left field Saturday and reported for work Sunday no worse for the wear.
"We’re going to try and do it at least a couple of more times before this over, we’re getting down to the end," said John Gibbons. "He came back and felt good (Sunday), I don’t think he had any throws to make, and now he can get with (first base coach Tim) Leiper and throw to the bases a little more from out there, which is a big step. Nobody thinks there are going to be any issues now."
Asked if the expectation was that Pearce could play left field on opening day if they wanted him to, Gibbons replied: "If we wanted to, yeah. Barring any setbacks, and I don’t know why there would be. If we wanted to go that way, we could do that."
[relatedlinks]
—
SHORT HOPS: Devon Travis was among several regulars getting a day off from playing Sunday but John Gibbons liked what he saw from the second baseman playing in back-to-back days. "He cleared a big hurdle – I was impressed watching him," he said. "He’s played some games now in a row and he’s played in the field. Nothing definite yet but it sure looks" like he’ll be ready for opening day. … Melvin Upton Jr., returned to the lineup Sunday after working through some shoulder issues. "He’s feeling good enough to play. Hopefully he comes out of that feeling good," said Gibbons. … The Blue Jays will probably announce their rotation Monday, said Gibbons. Sportsnet’s Arash Madani reported Friday that Marco Estrada will start opening day, followed by J.A. Happ, Marcus Stroman, Francisco Liriano and Aaron Sanchez.
