​Toronto, ON – May 18: Ross Atkins, general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, addressed reporters ahead of his team’s MLB matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, on May 18, 2024. The photo accompanying the scene was captured by Mark Blinch of Getty Images. In the lead-up to a weekend series in California, the Blue Jays prepared to face the San Diego Padres. This comes on the heels of a 10-0 win against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, followed by an optional day off on Thursday.
Ahead of the Padres series, news broke that the Blue Jays released pitcher Rafael Lantigua from their organization. MLB.com reported that the Buffalo Bisons, the team’s Triple-A affiliate, had released Lantigua. Notably, Lantigua never appeared in a major league game for the Blue Jays during his time within the organization.
Ethan Miller of Just Baseball commented on the move, citing the MiLB transaction log which shows the Blue Jays releasing Lantigua. At the time of his release, Lantigua was slashing .190/.285/.282 across Triple-A, and he had spent time at five different positions, including second base, shortstop, third base, left field, and center field. Miller noted that Lantigua should attract interest from other organizations looking to add depth on a minor-league deal.
This development follows a flurry of activity surrounding the Blue Jays as they head into their next series, with roster adjustments and strategic evaluations taking place as the organization looks to optimize competition at the minor league and major league levels. The Padres series marks another test for Toronto, as they aim to maintain momentum after securing a decisive win and continuing to fine-tune their lineup and player usage across multiple roles.
For more context on the team’s performance and personnel moves, fans and followers can monitor official Blue Jays updates and credible outlets covering Minor League Baseball transactions. This report aggregates observations from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the Blue Jays’ personnel decisions ahead of the Padres series.
Originally published on HEAVY, this article consolidates the latest developments surrounding the Blue Jays as they navigate rosters and prospects in the lead-up to a pivotal set against the Padres.