29-year old righty swinging IF/OF Jose Bautista has been playing out his this world this year for the Blue Jays. He has played in 50 games for the Jays this year and he is 43 of 174 (.247 avg, .950 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 15 homers, 40 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Even though he goes up to the plate hacking (42 whiffs) he still has a very solid 30 walks this year showing that he’s being a tad more picky at the plate and the results have been outstanding. It will be interesting to see if he can keep up the good work as he has career highs of 75 runs scored, 16 homers, 63 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. The fact that he’s so versatile in the field will likely mean that he will continue to get full time at bats thus he should set new career highs in all four of the categories mentioned earlier. He might even make his first All-Star team if he keeps hitting like he is right now.

25-year old righty starting pitcher Jesse Litsch is almost ready to make his return from Tommy John Surgery that he had last season. He has started 3 games on a rehab assignment in A+AAA-ball this year and he is 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. In his three years with the Jays, Litsch has pitched in 51 games (50 starts) in which he is 20-19 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. The Blue Jays won’t need a fifth starter until the end of May and it’s quite possible that Litsch could be ready by then.

The Blue Jays have recalled 28-year old lefty reliever David Purcey from AAA to replace Dana Eveland on the Jays’ pitching staff. Purcey has pitched in 17 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He has walked 15 batters while whiffing 23 in only 18 2/3 innings. He will need to improve his control it he is going to stick with the Blue Jays for long this year. Purcey has pitched in 21 games (all starts) for the Blue Jays in his two years with them and he is 4-9 with a 5.81 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. It was a smart move for Purcey to agree to relieve instead of start as that decision could be the one that gives him a long career in the majors.

The Blue Jays are all of a sudden a contending baseball team so they will need to act like one. The Chicago Cubs have been after Jason Frasor for quite a while so why not call them on the carpet about him. The Cubs are looking to put Carlos Zambrano back into the starting rotation likely pushing lefty starter Tom Gorzelanny to the pen. So a trade of Jason Frasor to the Cubs for Tom Gorzelanny would probably make both parties happy.

The Blue Jays have designated 26-year old lefty starting pitcher Dana Eveland for assignment. Eveland has started 9 games for the Blue Jays this year and he is 3-4 with a 6.45 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. He has allowed 57 hits and he has walked 27 batters in only 44 2/3 innings so he deserved what he got. Eveland has already said that he will accept a minor league assignment from the Jays if he clears waivers.