TORONTO, CANADA – JULY 26: The Toronto Blue Jays logo is seen during warms up ahead of the game against the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre on July 26, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays have had some time to process their heartbreaking loss in extra innings of World Series Game 7, after coming as close as possible to dethroning the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now, the team will look to reset the roster around superstar slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. First and foremost, they will have to determine whether or not they can afford to bring back franchise shortstop Bo Bichette. And the team will need to work on the rotation, with Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt becoming free agents as well.
With potential additions on the horizon, the Blue Jays have cleared some space on the roster. Last week, the team outrighted veteran pitcher Nick Sandlin. And on Monday, the team announced that he had cleared waivers and elected to leave the organization as a free agent rather than accept a minor league assignment.
“RHP Nick Sandlin has cleared waivers and elected free agency,” the Blue Jays announced via X, formerly Twitter.
Sandlin posted a solid 2.20 ERA in 19 games with the Blue Jays after the team acquired him alongside Andres Gimenez in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians last winter.
Sandlin appeared in more than 60 games in each of the last two seasons for the Guardians, maintaining a 3.75 ERA in both of those years. But he was a bridge option at best in the Guardians’ bullpen and was a bit of an afterthought thrown into the Gimenez deal.
He might have been a high-leverage option for the Blue Jays after that trade, but the decision to remove him from the roster came after an injury plagued single season with the team. Sandlin suffered a lat strain and then elbow inflammation and those injuries derailed his chances of sticking with the Blue Jays.
“Sandlin’s stuff was diminished,” Anthony Franco wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “He averaged career lows on both his slider (78.4 MPH) and four-seam fastball (91.4). While has never been a flamethrower, his heater was in the 94-95 MPH range during his rookie season and sat between 92-93 last year. Other teams evidently share the Jays’ concerns about the diminished velocity.”
After clearing waivers without a team willing to commit to a projected $2 million price, Sandlin might be able to find a major league role for next season at a smaller salary. In any case, he will be moving onto his second organization in two years after leaving the Blue Jays.