TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays continued tinkering with their bullpen and bench Tuesday, adding utility player Jimmy Paredes and ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte to the active roster to replace Andy Burns and Dustin Antolin, who were both optioned to triple-A Buffalo.
Paredes, who was claimed on waivers from the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, has yet to appear in a big league game this year because of a sprained left wrist. He hit .309 with an .847 OPS on a 19-game rehab assignment but ended up on waivers.
“We can bounce him around, try to get his bat in there at certain times,” manager John Gibbons said. “Use him off the bench in certain situations. Because he can hit, but he can play a lot of positions, too.”
While Paredes has MLB experience at second base, third base, left field and right field, he’s considered a below-average defensive player, and most of his experience comes as a DH. A switch-hitter, Paredes has a a lifetime .257/.293/.369 batting line after setting career highs with 10 home runs and 104 games played for the 2015 Orioles.
The Blue Jays’ bench now consists of Paredes, Josh Thole, Ezequiel Carrera and Darwin Barney.
Venditte appeared in five games for the Blue Jays earlier this year after joining the roster in an offseason waiver claim. The 30-year-old allowed three runs on five hits in 3.2 innings while walking four and striking out two.
Antolin made his MLB debut Monday, allowing three runs on four hits in two innings in a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Burns, who made his MLB debut earlier this year, returns to triple-A hitless in four at-bats over the course of five games.
