With the addition of the 29-year-old speedy outfielder, Fred Lewis, coming by way of trade from San Francisco, the Blue Jays have found their 25th man. Man number 26 is Mike McCoy.
After breaking camp with the Jays, McCoy was told by general manager Alex Anthopolous that if someone came up on the waiver wire that the Jays wanted they would pounce and send McCoy down to AAA Las Vegas.
That day has come.
Many may wonder why McCoy would be on the way down after playing relatively well for the Jays over the last 10 games—having arguably his best game of the year last night, and after Jeremy Reed was already sent down to AAA.
The simple answer is that McCoy was not put on the 2010 Toronto Blue Jays as an infielder.
Luckily for McCoy, the injury Aaron Hill sustained opened up a position at second base, McCoy's primary position, making McCoy's services quite essential. However, McCoy made the club as the team's fourth outfielder, not including the DH Adam Lind. Fred Lewis has now assumed the fourth outfielder post.
Therefore, the return of Aaron Hill means that someone will need to go to triple AAA Las Vegas, and with Fred Lewis having much more major league experience and more speed for Gaston to utilize, it looks like McCoy's stay will be short lived.
Hill isn't available to come off the disabled list for another week meaning McCoy will have a few games to show Anthopolous and Gaston his future worth. If McCoy plays well during this stretch he can assure he will be the first player called up, ahead of Jeremy Reed, for an outfield or middle infield position.
Seeing as Mike McCoy still has numerous options and John McDonald, Randy Ruiz, and Jose Molina's options are all either declining or non-existent McCoy is the odd man out.
It will be interesting to see the position in which the Blue Jays play Mike McCoy when he returns to AAA, as it is almost certain he will be sent to Las Vegas, despite recent addition, Jarrett Hoffpauir, already occupying the second base position.
Does McCoy go to the relatively weak outfield with Jeremy Reed, Chris Lubanski, and others? I would imagine, for now, he plays the outfield as it is McCoy's best chance to return to the majors, and a great chance for him to develop his relatively limited outfield skills.
Mike McCoy's years of a journeyman in the minors will continue, and Fred Lewis' will end. The writing is on the wall for McCoy and it reads, "A one way ticket to the AAA Las Vegas Area 51s."
The return date for McCoy, as of now, is the September roster extension.
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