MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Bichette (calf) could be available off the bench for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Bichette is out of the lineup for the third consecutive game while he works his way back from a right calf injury, but Schneider suggested that the shortstop is trending in the right direction and is scheduled to do "more hitting, baserunning, agility stuff" during a pregame workout. If Bichette responds well to those activities, the Blue Jays could call on him to make a pinch-hitting appearance in Monday's contest. Even if the Blue Jays opt to stay away from Bichette for another day, he would still seem likely to avoid a trip to the injured list and could be back in the lineup as soon as Tuesday.

Wells (elbow) underwent a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Wells avoided the second Tommy John surgery of his career, after he previously had the procedure in May 2019. However, while the internal brace procedure typically entails a shorter recovery timeline than Tommy John surgery, Wells will still miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign, and likely a few months of the 2025 season.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed that Rodriguez (back) has returned to Toronto and could be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Friday in Cleveland, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Rodriguez wrapped up his six-start rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, when he struck out seven while allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over three innings. He tossed 79 pitches in the outing and should be built up enough to handle a traditional starter's workload, if the Blue Jays want to give it to him. Before Rodriguez landed on the IL on April 30 with thoracic spine inflammation, the Blue Jays had been managing his usage carefully, as he worked between three and four innings in each of his four starts. Should Toronto elect to manage Rodriguez's workload again if he starts Friday, he could be deployed as part of a tandem with Bowden Francis, who had most recently served as a bulk reliever when the No. 5 spot in the rotation came up.

DeGrom (elbow) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

The session contained only fastballs and marked the first time deGrom has thrown off a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery last June. Everything went according to plan, and deGrom will continue to the ramp-up process as he eyes a return from the 60-day injured list sometime in the second half of the season.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Romano (elbow) threw from 90-to-120 feet Monday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

According to Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star, if Romano responds well to Monday's workout, he'll be cleared to throw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list June 1 with right elbow inflammation. Since he's a closer who typically doesn't pitch more than an inning in his appearances, Romano won't require an extensive ramp-up period, but the Blue Jays will still likely want to send him out on a brief minor-league rehab assignment prior to activating him from the IL. Yimi Garcia has served as the Blue Jays' primary closer while Romano has been on the shelf, but Garcia is considered day-to-day with an elbow issue of his own. Chad Green appears to be next in line for saves out of the Toronto bullpen.

The Red Sox optioned Westbrook to Triple-A Worcester on Monday.

The 29-year-old Westbrook went 4-for-18 with a home run while appearing in 11 games during his first-ever stint in the big leagues. He'll cede his spot on the Red Sox bench to infielder Romy Gonzalez (hamstring), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.

The Red Sox activated Gonzalez (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Gonzalez has missed most of June with a hamstring issue but was cleared to rejoin the Red Sox following a brief rehab assignment. He'll check back into the starting nine at second base and as the No. 6 hitter in Monday's series opener as the Blue Jays send lefty Yusei Kikuchi to the mound. Gonzalez is expected to fill the short side of a platoon at the keystone with Enmanuel Valdez.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Garcia is considered day-to-day after an MRI on his right elbow revealed no structural damage but showed "ulnar nerve symptoms," Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

According to Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star, the Blue Jays are describing the right elbow soreness that forced Garcia out of a save chance in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Guardians is being viewed as a "stinger." The club isn't too concerned about the injury, though Wilner notes that if Garcia hasn't made a full recovery by Friday, the Blue Jays won't hesitate to place him on the injured list. Schneider intimated that the Blue Jays will likely stay away from Garcia for at least Monday's game versus the Red Sox, with the skipper naming Chad Green as the team's interim closer for however long Garcia is unavailable. Before leaving early Sunday, Garcia had converted three consecutive save chances to solidify himself as the Blue Jays' preferred ninth-inning man while two-time All-Star closer Jordan Romano (elbow) remains on the IL.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Green will serve as the team's closer while Yimi Garcia (elbow) is day-to-day, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Garcia was pulled from a save chance in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Guardians after experiencing right elbow soreness. The Blue Jays ended up turning to Nate Pearson to finish out the contest, but Green had been used earlier in the game and seems to be first in line to operate as Toronto's closer for any length of time that Garcia might miss. Garcia underwent an MRI on Monday that cleared him of any structural damage to his elbow, but he's still dealing with what Schneider described as "ulnar nerve symptoms" and may require a stint on the injured list. Toronto's preferred closer, Jordan Romano (elbow), is already on the IL, and if Garcia joins him, Green may have a clear runway to save chances until one of the two injured pitchers is activated. Green, who owns a 1.76 ERA and 0.85 WHIP over 15.1 innings this season, makes for a strong speculative pickup in leagues where he's still available.

McKinstry is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Atlanta.

He and Ryan Kreidler have split the starts at shortstop down the middle, with both getting four apiece since Javier Baez (back) went on the injured list. McKinstry has now been on the bench for all three contests versus lefties, as Atlanta is starting southpaw Max Fried on Monday.