The Blue Jays have lost 25-year old righty starter Josh Banks on waivers to the Padres. Banks has pitched in 4 games (3 starts) in AAA this season and he was 0-2 with a 6.88 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Banks was the #25 prospect in the Blue Jays’ system according to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook. Banks pitched in 127 games (126 starts) in his minor league career prior to this season and he compiled a 50-42 record with a 4.19 ERA. Banks has also pitched in 3 games (1 start) for the Blue Jays in his career and he was 0-0 with a 7.36 ERA.

Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum are proving that last season was not a fluke. While baseball writers keep blabbing about Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes, Caly Buchholz and John Lester all McGowan and Marcum keep doing is win baseball games. Both of them have great stuff and they will earn respect very soon. McGowan has started 4 games this season and he is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He also has whiffed 17 batters in 24 innings. Shaun Marcum has started 3 games for the Jays this season and he is 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. Marcum has already whiffed 20 batters in 20.2 innings. With the starting rotation the Blue Jays have they will likely compete for the American League East Crown. They are currently in third place in the A.L. East with a 10-9 record, 2.5 games behind the Red Sox.

2B Aaron Hill is rewarding the Blue Jays faith in him as he is off to an outstanding start to the 2008 season. The Jays locked him up in the off-season to a pretty nice long term contract. Hill has played in 19 games this season and he is 24 for 74 (.324 avg, .864 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 2 homers, 13 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Blue Jays have moved Hill up to the #2 spot in the order and he will be perfect for the job.

This came completely out of the blue and surprised Thomas. Sure he wasn’t off to his best start but this was not to way to handle a player of Thomas’ caliber. Thomas played in 16 games for the Blue Jays this season and he was 10 for 60 (.167 avg, .639 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 3 homers and 11 RBIs. Thomas will be replaced as the DH by Matt Stairs. Stairs has played in 14 games so far this season and he is 14 for 42 (.333 avg, .875 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Look for Thomas to get a new job soon from a team that could use help at DH like the Mariners or the Rays.

The Blue Jays have placed righty reliever Brian Wolfe on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right triceps muscle. He has pitched in 8 games for the Blue Jays this season and he is 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Due to the Blue Jays’ depth in the bullpen they won’t likely miss Wolfe too much.