Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:27:44 -0700

Toronto Blue Jays SP J.A. Happ (back) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two in three innings in a minor league game Friday, March 14, and he said his back is feeling better. "I wanted to jump right back in, but they thought this was a good idea, and it turned out to be a good idea," Happ said of his brief absence to rest the injury. "I'm ready to go." The team is being cautious with Happ, and they'll make him earn a rotation spot in competition with the likes of SPs Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond, Marcus Stroman and Ricky Romero.

Fantasy Tip: As Chisholm notes, it appears that Drew Hutchison has one of the remaining two spots locked up. He's a sleeper pick for AL-only managers. Happ has the experience, but Toronto may prefer health and youth from Stroman. Stay tuned.

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| Source: MLB.com - Gregor Chisholm

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 07:43:17 -0700

Toronto Blue Jays SP Drew Hutchison is in the lead for a rotation spot, according to manager John Gibbons. "Nobody's pitched better this spring than Hutch," he said. "The way he's pitching he's been dominating." Hutchison is likely in even if J.A. Happ (back) is healthy. Marcus Stroman remains in the mix for replacing Happ, but Gibbons wants prospect to tighten his command. Ricky Romero pitched four innings Wednesday, March 12, and apparently impressed Toronto brass, and he can't be counted out yet. Esmil Rogers and Todd Redmond are also in consideration.

Fantasy Tip: Hutchison could be a decent gamble in deep mixed leagues and should be in line for more AL-only confidence. Stroman should get a few starts this season, at least, and warrants a stash. Romero is worth watching.

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| Source: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 15:20:09 -0800

Toronto Blue Jays SPs Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond, Drew Hutchison, Kyle Drabek, Marcus Stroman, Sean Nolin, Dustin McGowan and Ricky Romero are all competing for the fifth rotation spot this spring, but manager John Gibbons said the team won't have a clear picture on who the favorites are until spring games begin.

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| Source: MLB.com - Adam Berry

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 13:36:45 -0700

The Toronto Blue Jays outrighted SP Ricky Romero and C Mike Nickeas to Triple-A Buffalo Friday, Oct. 4, after they cleared waivers.

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| Source: The Canadian Press - Shi Davidi

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 01:44:46 -0700

The Toronto Blue Jays are likely to remove SP Ricky Romero from the 40-man roster in the offseason, but it does not spell the end of his chances to stay with the team. Romero will be given a clean slate in 2014 and a chance to win a spot on the roster, according to general manager Alex Anthopoulos.

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| Source: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 18:57:06 -0700

The Toronto Blue Jays recalled Ps Kyle Drabek, Jeremy Jeffress, Luis Perez and Ricky Romero from Triple-A Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 3. The team also designated 1B Mauro Gomez for assignment, and recall C Mike Nickeas.

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| Source: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 09:55:41 -0700

Toronto Blue Jays SP Ricky Romero pitched seven innings for Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, July 9, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks while fanning a season-high seven.

Fantasy Tip: In June, Romero ditched some mechanical changes instituted this past spring, and his results have been marginally better. That makes three straight quality starts on the farm for the left-hander, with a few other encouraging outings prior to this stretch. Romero seems unlikely to be promoted until well after the break, though, so there's no need to tuck him away, except perhaps in AL-only leagues.

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| Source: The Toronto Star - Brendan Kennedy

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 09:56:01 -0700

Toronto Blue Jays SP Ricky Romero, currently at Triple-A Buffalo, could be called up in September if he shows more consistency with the encouraging signs from four of his last five outings.

Fantasy Tip: Deep-mixed scroungers could keep an eye out as summer rolls on, but AL-only players could make a $0 or $1 bid for a handful of potentially productive starts. Do you need the risky spark?

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| Source: National Post - John Lott

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 11:18:39 -0700

Toronto Blue Jays SP Ricky Romero has allowed 14 hits, four runs (three earned), zero home runs and eight walks, with 12 strikeouts, in his last 18 2/3 innings with Triple-A Buffalo, all since reverting to his old mechanics.

Fantasy Tip: The left-hander is on a good path to returning to the bigs since ditching some changes instituted this past spring for a variety of reasons. If Brandon Morrow (forearm) or J.A. Happ (knee) remains out for longer than expected, Romero seems likely to get an opportunity and may be worth a look in AL-only leagues.

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| Source: The Toronto Star - Brendan Kennedy

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:56:57 -0700

Toronto Blue Jays SP Ricky Romero decided to get rid of the mechanical changes that he had made the last couple months after another rough minor league outing two weeks ago. "The biggest thing is confidence, you know?" Romero said. "It was never anything mechanical. What I told the organization was that I was going back to my old mechanics, plain and simple." He is currently sporting an ERA of 11.84 with 20 walks and 31 hits allowed in 19 innings with Triple-A Buffalo. C Josh Thole said Romero has a "little swagger" back and has accepted that he needs to be in the minors right now.

Romero said there is no timetable for him return to the big leagues, though, but he's fine with that. "My mind is at peace," Romero said. "I think that's been the biggest thing throughout all this: I've been trying to make everyone else happy before I made myself happy. It took the fun out of the game."

Fantasy Tip: Romero will probably never get back to his 2011 self when he won 15 games and had an ERA under 3.00. His career isn't over, though. If he regains some confidence by being himself and not worrying about mechanics, there could be a slight rebound. Keep your eyes on him in deep AL leagues if he's brought back up.

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| Source: National Post - John Lott