Yep, that's why they got him, he's one of the best defensive catchers in the game. I wonder where navarro will fit as the third catcher. I can't see him replacing thole and I don't want to see martin taking time off during the pennant race.
The roster is expanding in September. Thole and Dickey are in their final year with the Jays. Dickey will surely move to the NL, possibly to be a reliever. The postseason rotation likely will not involve Dickey. Sanchez, Happ, Stroman, Estrada. It will be a 3 or 4-man rotation with them. Dickey and Liriano won't be starting in the postseason and Dickey may only be used as a reliever and only if a catcher that isn't Thole can catch for him. If noone else can catch for him then dickey will probably be left off the postseason roster. Dioner will become the backup catcher.
Ok, now I got it, this is almost the same thing they did with beurhle, I never did like the idea of having to carry around thole just for one pitcher.
Well Skinny what did I say. https://www.thestar.com/sports/blue...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Thole will not be on the postseason roster and this could spell the end of Dickey. If they really wanted Thole to play in the postseason then they would have waited a couple days to call up Navarro after roster expansion.
The postseason roster has 25 players. The Jays brought 4 starters and 7 relievers into the ALDS last season. I expect the pitchers to be: Starters- Sanchez Happ Estrada Stroman Relievers- Osuna Grilli Benoit Biagini Cecil (lefty) Liriano (lefty/long reliever) Dickey if given the chance. If not then maybe they go Shultz or force Loup as a lefty.
Run differential also looking great. Earlier they had an average run differential and the BoSox were well ahead. Now it is much closer. Boston still in 1st with +120 but the Jays are now at +106. The NL has better difference and runs allowed by the Nationals and Cubs though. For the Nats it's certainly due to the league, but the Cubs are freaks.
Jays covering their bases. The Blue Jays announced Thursday they have re-signed catcher Josh Thole to a major-league deal. The 29-year-old, who specializes in snaring R.A. Dickey's knuckleball, was designated for assignment earlier this week following the team?s acquisition of Dioner Navarro, who has taken over the role of backup catcher. But with active rosters expanding in September from the usual 25 to as many as 40, Thole, who cleared waivers earlier this week before he was re-signed, can rejoin the team as the third catcher for the final month of the season. In a bit of roster finagling, second baseman Devon Travis was technically optioned to the Jays? rookie-ball team in Bluefield, Va., to clear space for Thole. But since Bluefield?s season ends Sept. 1, Travis can be recalled in time for the Jays? series opener against Tampa on Friday. Thole was signed before 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 31, making him eligible for the post-season.
Just in case for anything including an injury to one or two other starters. This was only possible because Thole chose to become a free agent when he was optioned. Many Vets have that choice. So once he cleared waivers he was able to resign with the team before the deadline. If he didn't elect FA then he wasn't allowed to come back up quickly enough.
