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It would be a weird day in Blue Jays land if the team DIDN'T make an unexpected roster move. The team placed Michael Saunders on the 15-day disabled list and selected recently DFA'd infielder Steve Tolleson back up to the big league squad. Since the 40-man roster was full with the reliever people mover recently created between Buffalo and Toronto, RHP Preston Guilmet was designated for assignment to make room.
Saunders played yesterday against Boston of course before the team (or Adam Lind's Mom) decided that he wasn't in proper game shape and he needed at least two more weeks of rest. The Canadian native made a nice little catch in left field at the beginning of the game and went 0-4 at the plate in his first appearance in almost a week. After returning from a knee injury in late April, the lefty hitter has been in and out of the lineup thanks to having fluid drained from the knee and cortisone shots to try and get him back on the field. Clearly the whole thing has been a bit rushed as he's only managed nine games before going down again.
The Blue Jays confirmed the Mother's Day news:
The @BlueJays select contract of Steve Tolleson from @BuffaloBisons with Michael Saunders being placed on 15-day DL (left knee inflammation)
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 10, 2015
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">To make room on the 40-man roster RHP Preston Guilmet has been designated for assignment.</p>— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/597394192827047937">May 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Steve Tolleson on the other hand returns to Toronto only a few days after being outrighted to to Buffalo and electing free agency only to re-sign with the team. Minor Leaguer does a great job explaining the loop hole employed here that allowed Tolleson to skip the 10 days he was required to spend in the minor leagues on outright assignment before returning to the Blue Jays. I think most fans will be happy to see Tolleson back as he had performed well this season and was only DFA'd because of an unlucky roster situation that was no fault of his own. In a perfect world Toronto wouldn't currently have a bench consisting of Danny Valencia, Steve Tolleson, Josh Thole, and Justin Smoak but this is the Blue Jays we're talking about. The optimal Opening Day lineup usually only lasts two games before it is never seen again and guys like Ezequiel Carrera take their place.
Preston Guilmet was the unlucky reliever sent off the 40-man roster after pitching strongly in Buffalo to start the year. Unfortunately with the way the Blue Jays currently are, he could have been the next guy sent up to Toronto or DFA'd depending on the situation that arose. In 10 appearances with the Bisons he allowed just two earned runs after being claimed this winter from the Pirates. As he has an option remaining, the 27-year-old will likely be claimed by a team with an empty 40-man spot and then stashed away in the minors until he is needed.