I don't think it is a huge surprise but then, the timing seems strange. Just three days ago the Jays sent Chad Jenkins down to Buffalo. I thought at the time that Sergio Santos had been so ineffective that he should have been the one leaving, to make room for Brad Mills. And today they DFA Santos. Rob Rasmussen gets the call up. So really they sent Jenkins down to call up Rasmussen.
I don't understand the decision making process of the Blue Jays. It just doesn't make sense. What has changed in 3 days? For 3 days of Santos in the pen, we DFAed Deck McGuire and sent down Jenkins. Now McGuire isn't someone to worry about losing, but then why get rid of him just before getting rid of Santos. It seems strange Anthopoulos, who is usually worried about hording assets. I'd love to have an explanation.
Santos has been nothing less than awful this year. He's 0-2 with 5 saves, has a 7.78 ERA (5.07 FIP). In 19.2 innings he's allowed 24 hits, 3 home runs, 17 walks with 26 strikeouts. Almost a walk an inning. I don't think his FIP really has caught on to how bad he's been.
Last year he was great, 1.75 ERA. In 25.2 innings he allowed 11 hits, 1 home runs, 4 walks, with 28 strikeouts. How you go from 1.4 walks/9 innings to 7.8, I don't know.
Minor Leaguer tells me:
The Blue Jays last designated the then-infielder Sergio Santos for assignment on May 9, 2008 when they acquired Kevin Mench and Brad Wilkerson.
I could have done without being reminded about the Mencherson monster. That was a sad chapter in our history.
Rob Rasmussen has pitched in 7 Blue Jays games, has a 6.00 ERA, allowed 5 hits, 1 home run, 4 walks with 7 strikeouts in 6 innings of work. At Buffalo he was 1-1, with a 2.61 ERA. In 31 innings, he allowed 22 hits, 0 home runs, 14 walks with 35 strikeouts.
Bye Sergio, sorry it didn't work out. Hello again Rob, hope your stay is long and successful.
Update: Alex is saying that he hopes Santos clears waivers....I imagine he will, who would want to pay him, and Alex hopes he figures things out in Buffalo.