The Blue Jays placed Will Wagner on the 60-day injured list yesterday, bringing his rookie season to an early close. Keegan Matheson of MLB.com tweets that the infielder will undergo a left knee scope tomorrow. It’s a minor arthroscopic procedure that is expected to prevent Wagner from participating in baseball activities for a month. He should have ample time to progress through most of the offseason and be ready for Spring Training.
Toronto acquired Wagner alongside Jake Bloss and Joey Loperfido in a strong trade package for rental starter Yusei Kikuchi. Wagner was in Triple-A with the Astros at the time of the trade. The Jays briefly sent him to their top affiliate before calling him up in mid-August. The lefty-hitting second baseman made a strong first impression, running a .305/.337/.451 slash with a pair of homers in 24 games.
Wagner had a very strong year in Triple-A to earn the MLB look. He combined for a .315/.432/.444 line through 355 minor league plate appearances. Wagner drew 59 walks while striking out just 37 times. Assuming the surgery rehab goes as planned, he could compete for the second base job in camp. Davis Schneider, Leo Jiménez and Ernie Clement should split the remaining time there this season.
On the other side of the infield, the Jays scratched Bo Bichette minutes before Wednesday’s loss to the Rangers. The shortstop suffered a contusion on his right middle finger. Manager John Schneider said after the game that Bichette was injured while taking grounders in pregame warm-ups (link via Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet). He’ll go for x-rays tomorrow.
Bichette just returned from the injured list on Tuesday. A calf strain had sidelined him since the middle of July. That was the second calf-related IL stint of what has been an extremely frustrating season. If he did suffer any kind of finger fracture, the Jays would presumably shut him down for the year. Bichette has appeared in 81 games and owns a career-worst .225/.277/.322 batting line.
its_happening
Jays have plenty of 2B types and not enough left side INF types. If the Jays plan to keep Bo, he now has to play 2B or 3B because of the knee/calf issues. Arm isn’t there at 3B but it wasn’t at short either.
A lot of decisions and trades coming this offseason. This should be interesting as Atkins’ GM career is on the line.
Ducey
They have Clement and Jimenez to play SS. They have Clement and Barger to play 3B.
On the farm they have Kasevich and Orelvis coming along. Plus a couple of guys like Palmigiani who have potential but have not made the adjustment at AAA yet.
There is no evidence that Bo’s calf injury hasn’t/wont heal, or that playing 2B will be easier on it.
Given his pending free agency, they ought to explore the trade market for him this winter. There is no way that he will not take the chance to test his value on the FA market.
FemboySportsFan!
Kasevich is tearing it up for us, he just needs to unlock his power…right now he’s like Luis arraez, low power good contact….I cant wait for him to come up, same with orelvis.
KamKid
I think that might have to be partly his decision though. It’s tough to move a guy off a valuable position in his walk year. But they also probably shouldn’t keep playing the long game with him if there’s a better option given he’s in his last year of control.
I also think if they don’t value him as a SS that it might tip the scales towards a trade because there are probably teams who do and also believe in a bounce back.
FemboySportsFan!
I CANNOT WAIT for Josh kasevich to come up next year, I hope he unlocks his power soon, he’s going to be great.
KamKid
Kasevich? That’s interesting. Do you think there is power to unlock? Scouting the stat lines and statcast data is unimpressive but scouts and prospect writers are pretty high on him.
FemboySportsFan!
Yes kasevich, there is definitely power to unlock, he could be a 15 homer guy for sure. He’s like Luis arraez, but I think he could have more power…he gets on base alot, and hits for average, and his WRC+ is only getting better. and now that he’s in AAA I expect to see him next year, maybe a small sample.