Blue Jays roster moves: Santos Down, Shafer Up

The Blue Jays have sent Luis Santos down to Buffalo, Justin Shafer gets his active roster spot. To make room on the 40-man, Aaron Sanchez has been put on the 60-day DL retroactive to June 22. 60 days should be August 21 so it won’t make any difference for when he comes back.

Shafer has had a great season. Splitting time between New Hampshire and Buffalo he has a 1.17 ERA in 35 games. In 54 innings he’s allowed 37 hits, 1 home run, 21 walks and has 46 strikeouts. I’m looking forward to seeing him.

Santos, as you know, hasn’t been good. 7.20 ERA for the Jays in 20 innings.

Also, as was said yesterday Marcus Stroman was put on the DL for his blister problem. Thoman Pannone got his roster spot. Pannone will get a start, likely Wednesday.

Shafer was #39 on our top 40 prospect list, here is what I wrote:

39. Justin Shafer, age 25 (DOB: September 18, 1992), RHP. Last Year: Not on list.

Another one who Matt had to talk me into putting on the list. I had him in the high 40s on mine, but I tend to discount minor league relievers. And Shafer is 25 now.

But, the Jays gave up on trying to get Justin to be a serviceable starter and, in 2017, put him in the pen full time. It agreed with him. He spent most of the year in New Hampshire, with 5 appearances in Dunedin and 2 in Buffalo. In total, he had a 2.90 ERA in 44 games, 71.1 innings. He allowed 55 hits, 29 walks with 65 strikeouts.

Justin was an 8th round draft pick in 2014, and he played mostly outfield in college. Since joining the Jays minor league system he’s had some middling seasons as a starter, walking too many and striking out too few. In 2015 he had a 4.15 ERA in 95.1 innings, with 32 walks and 53 strikeouts in Lansing and Dunedin. In 2016 he had a 5.23 ERA in 115.1 innings, with 42 walks and 62 strikeouts in Dunedin.

He doesn’t throw hard but he throws sinkers and sliders, gets a lot of ground balls, so he might look better in the Majors, where his infield defense will do a better job for him.

Justin has been invited to the Major League Spring Training, so we’ll get a look at him. He should end up in Buffalo, but if he does well, and if there are a couple of injuries, we might see him in Toronto.