July 31, 2019

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

The proverbial clearing of the decks continued in Toronto as the Blue Jays dealt away three members of their MLB pitching staff in exchange for prospects on Wednesday afternoon.

For right-handers Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagini and minor league OF Cal Stevenson, the Blue Jays received OF Derek Fisher from the Houston Astros, while RHP Daniel Hudson netted a return of RHP Kyle Johnston from the Washington Nationals.

Fisher, 25, has slashed .201/.282/.367 with 22 extra-base hits across 312 Major League plate appearances since breaking in with the Astros in 2017. Through parts of six minor league campaigns, the 6'3 product of Lebanon, Penn., owns an OPS of .860 with 90 home runs, 50 of which have come at the triple-A level.

Johnston, 23, has appeared in parts of three minor league seasons since signing with the Nationals in 2016, posting an overall ERA of 3.93 while striking out 229 and issuing 115 walks across 63 games, 40 of which have come as a starter. Ranked No. 27 on the Nationals top prospect list by MLB Pipeline ahead of Wednesday's deal, the 6'0" product of Flower Mill, Tex., will need to claim a spot on Toronto's 40-man roster this winter should the Blue Jays wish to protect him from the Rule-5 Draft in December.

Over parts of six seasons in Toronto, Sanchez amassed a cumulative ERA of 3.96 while striking out a combined 458 batters over his 146 appearances with the club. A first-round draft pick in 2010, Sanchez led all American League starters in ERA (3.00) during the 2016 campaign but exits Toronto with the second-highest walk total (59) and the most runs allowed (82) among all junior circuit hurlers this season.

Claimed out of the San Francisco Giants system during 2015's Rule-5 selection period, Biagini made 203 appearances with the Blue Jays over parts of four seasons at the MLB level. One of Toronto's most effective relievers during their fight for an AL Wild Card spot in 2016, the Redwood City, Calif., native leaves the Blue Jays having carved out an overall record of 14-24 while posting an ERA of 4.76 across 308.1 innings.

Signed after being cut loose from the Los Angeles Angels this spring, Hudson appeared in 45 games with Toronto ahead of Wednesday's move, going 6-3 with a WHIP of 1.271 through 48 frames. The 32-year-old right-hander had been especially productive over his last 40 appearances, pitching to an ERA of 2.27 while allowing an OBA of just .203 across 43.2/3 innings of work.

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Other roster notes from Toronto Blue Jays website

Blue Jays claim Stewart from Dodgers

The Blue Jays have claimed RHP Brock Stewart from the Los Angeles Dodgers and he has been optioned to triple-A Buffalo.

Stewart, 27, held a 5-7 record with a 7.34 ERA across 16 starts for triple-A Oklahoma City this season, striking out 67 batters in 76 innings pitched. The 6-3, 215 lb. right-handed pitcher was selected by Los Angeles in the 6th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, and has pitched in 36 games over the course of four Major League seasons with the Dodgers, combining for a 5.46 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP with 71 strikeouts over 84 innings.

Borucki to IL, Boshers called up

The Blue Jays have placed LHP Ryan Borucki on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to July 28. LHP Buddy Boshers has been selected to the Major League roster and will be active for today’s game.