Blue Jays Bites - October 26

Time for another edition of Blue Jays Bites: a collection of a few stories that don't pass the grade to become full articles this afternoon.

Torey Lovullo Hired By Red Sox

Torey Lovullo, the Blue Jays' first base coach for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, was officially hired by the Boston Red Sox as John Farrell's bench coach. Lovullo and Farrell go way back: Lovullo and Farrell were teammates on the 1995 Buffalo Bisons (then AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in the now-defunct American Association),then in 2001, Farrell, as the Indians' Director of Player Development, brought Lovullo on as a roving coordinator. Lovullo rose through the ranks in the Indians organization, managing the high-A Kinston Indians, AA Akron Aeros, and AAA Buffalo Bisons. Lovullo was hired by Red Sox AAA affiliate Pawtucket as their manager for the 2010 season while Farrell served as the pitching coach of the Major League club. It was not that big of a surprise that he decided to join his friend in Boston.

Providence Journal's Red Sox beat writer Tim Britton (@TBritton_Projo) tweeted a few quotes from Lovullo:

"Exciting is probably an understatement. I'm part of a great Red Sox family now."

"The relationship we've formed is pretty unique. We've developed a natural confidence in each other."

And another quote via Mike Cormack (@MikeCormack):

"The whole John Farrell situation was really in our face the last month in Toronto."

Well at least he's somewhere where he's happy. Enjoy your outfield defense and baserunning next year, Red Sox fans.

Rajai Davis' Options

The Toronto Blue Jays have a club option for outfielder Rajai Davis for 2013, but the club must exercise it by the third day after the conclusion of the World Series. Davis signed a two-year plus club option contract in 2011, which guaranteed him $2.5 million in 2011, $2.75 million in 2012, and also included a $3 million option for 2013. If the Jays decide to decline the offer, Davis will be owed a $500,000 buyout.

Gregor Chisholm has some quotes from Davis in his latest column:

"That's the hope, I suppose that is the hope," Davis said at the end of the season when asked if he wanted the option to be picked up. "For me, I think it will be good either way. If it gets picked up, great. If it doesn't, oh well."

I guess he doesn't mind playing for Toronto, but it's not his "dream job." I've always liked Davis off the bench, as a late-inning pinch runner and as a fourth outfielder with 1-2 starts a week against southpaws. He's exciting on the basepaths (it was really fun watching him and Anthony Gose on base together...which didn't happen all that often), but he really can't hit and generally takes really bad routes in the outfield. If I were the Blue Jays, I'd pick up that option, and tell my new manager that he is not to start everyday.

Bryan Longpre Retiring

In a piece of minor news, Blue Jays farm hand Bryan Longpre (@BryanLongpre) has announced his retirement from professional baseball. Longpre, 25, was an undrafted free agent in 2010 and he pitched in relief for the GCL Blue Jays, Dunedin Blue Jays, Vancouver Canadians, and the Lansing Lugnuts in his three years win the Blue Jays organization. He was a member of the 2011 and 2012 back-to-back Northwest League Champion Vancouver Canadians.

April Whitzman of JaysProspect.com caught up with Longpre back in August 2011. Longpre was quite the scholar, apparently, finishing high school with a 3.83 GPA and getting a business degree from Grossmont College with a 3.7 GPA. Longpre is looking forward to becoming a financial advisor in his next career, and wants to eventually work with ballplayers.

Links: On Re-Signing Shaun Marcum

Kyle Franzoni, Andrew Stoeten, and Ian Hunter wrote about the prospects of the Blue Jays re-acquiring starter Shaun Marcum through free agency. Jeff Blair mentioned that there is "no chance that he's back here" because of some clubhouse issues. I would love to see the Jays offer a fair deal to Marcum, despite my worries about his recent injuries and his longevity.