Blue Jays GM: Sanchez to stay in rotation for time being

The saga of Aaron Sanchez's supposedly impending move to the bullpen took another turn Thursday, as Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the 24-year-old will remain in the rotation for now, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.

Instead, the Blue Jays will employ a six-man rotation after acquiring starter Francisco Liriano at the trade deadline, though Atkins also said the club will continue to gauge Sanchez on a start-by-start basis and closely monitor for any signs of fatigue, according to Davidi.

"The biggest thing is input from different people after something was more concrete, or closer to it, and the fact that Francisco Liriano was so open to everything," Atkins said Tuesday, according to MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm. "Then the more we thought about the potential of a six-man rotation not just benefiting Aaron but benefiting the others in the rotation at this point in the season."

Sanchez has been lights-out in a breakout season that's seen him surpass his previous career high in innings of 133 1/3, set in 2014. Crafting an American League-best 2.71 ERA this season and owning an 11-1 record in 139 1/3 innings, Sanchez was also awarded his first All-Star appearance after being named as a replacement for Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel.

Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said earlier Thursday that Sanchez was all but guaranteed to move to the bullpen, adding Atkins was on his way to meet the club in Houston to discuss Sanchez's transition to a relief role.