TORONTO -- Mike Bolsinger's latest stint with the Blue Jays has come to an end after Toronto announced on Thursday afternoon that he had been designated for assignment.
Bolsinger made five starts for the Blue Jays and went 0-2 with a 5.61 ERA. He was expected to lose his spot in the rotation when lefty Francisco Liriano is activated from the 10-day disabled list prior to Friday night's game against the Yankees.
The hope for Toronto is that Bolsinger will clear waivers and report to Triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays don't want to lose starting-pitching depth, but manager John Gibbons said they couldn't justify removing someone from the bullpen to create a spot for Bolsinger.
"When you look at our team, we like what we have down there," Gibbons said of the bullpen. "With [Joe] Biagini in the rotation and [Aaron] Sanchez probably not too, too far off, it's becoming a logjam. Somebody is going to go to the bullpen anyway."
It's the second time this year that Bolsinger has been designated for assignment. Bolsinger also was DFA'd at the end of Spring Training, but he cleared waivers and remained with the organization. He might clear this time as well, but one thing working in his favor is each of his last two starts included three earned runs or fewer.
Right-hander Leonel Campos was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take Bolsinger's spot on the roster. Campos is expected to remain with the club for just one day and likely will be sent back down to clear a spot for Liriano.
"I don't know if there's interest in him, but there have been a lot of pitching injuries, so there might be," Gibbons said of Bolsinger's availability.
Travis, Martin banged up
Second baseman Devon Travis and catcher Russell Martin were each held out of the starting lineup on Thursday night vs. New York to rest nagging injuries.
Martin appeared to aggravate his left knee during an at-bat on Wednesday night but remained in the game. Gibbons said Travis continues to be plagued by leg issues, following offseason knee surgery, and he has also been bothered by a sore hamstring.
Gibbons seemed to indicate that their absences from the lineup were for maintenance reasons more than anything else. He planned to give each of them a day of rest at some point this week, and the club doesn't want their physical issues to turn into actual injuries.
"He's banged up," Gibbons said of Travis. "He's had that knee issue. He's been hobbled a little bit but you wouldn't know it. I figure this is the night anyways. [Yankees starter CC] Sabathia, for whatever reason, has been tough on him.
"I think Devon has needed one the last few days, but he had the streak going, things like that. We're thinking [ahead] six months, not 2 1/2 months."
Gregor Chisholm