Blue Jays send Sanchez to Single-A amid innings limit
In an attempt to manage breakout starter Aaron Sanchez's innings workload, the Toronto Blue Jays optioned the right-hander to Single-A Dunedin on Sunday.
Reliever Aaron Loup was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding roster move.
Sanchez has thrown a career-high 156 1/3 innings this season, and the club has been actively searching for a way to limit his elevated workload, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.
"We've talked a lot about this over the year," general manager Ross Atkins told reporters Sunday, according to The Associated Press. "Not just over the last month, but as good as Aaron has become, we all along thought at some point we'll have to manage his workload. That's what this is about. He'll come right back in the rotation."
By sending the 24-year-old to the Single-A affiliate in Dunedin, Fla., Sanchez is able to work under supervision at the club's rehab complex. The Blue Jays had already planned to skip his next scheduled start, so the club will temporarily replace him on the big-league roster for a minimum 10 days.
"Making this move was something we tried to stay away from, talking about innings being a concern," Sanchez said. "I still have to get ready. It's not like my season's over. It's normal work when I go down there. Nothing changes for me."
A first-time All-Star this season, Sanchez has crafted a 2.99 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while going 12-2 in 24 starts.