Blue Jays DFA silver slugger to make room for George Springer

Toronto reinstated Springer from the 10-day injured list and designated Jiménez for assignment in the corresponding move. That made the roster math plain. Springer's return cost Jiménez his place.

That is the tougher angle here, not Springer alone. Jiménez was the player Toronto called on when Springer fractured his left big toe on April 12, and now he is the player squeezed out when the veteran is ready again.

The Blue Jays had given Jiménez a real lane. When Springer went down, Toronto selected Jiménez's contract from Triple-A Buffalo and hoped the former Silver Slugger could give the lineup some needed thump.

Instead, this turned into a short stay with no long leash. MLB Trade Rumors reported Tuesday that Toronto chose to clear the spot immediately once Springer was healthy enough to come off the injured list.

That says something about how the club views Springer even at 36. He remains one of Toronto's core lineup pieces, and his activation pushed the Blue Jays back toward the roster shape they trust more.

Jiménez's situation was always fragile because his value lived mostly at designated hitter. Once Springer's toe improved enough for activation, the Blue Jays no longer had the same clean everyday lane for Jiménez's bat.

That made him vulnerable fast. Earlier reports had already shown Toronto rotating the DH spot instead of handing Jiménez full control of it, even while Springer was still unavailable.

Springer's return also came after a steady buildup. Reports published Tuesday said he had missed 14 straight games, but was tracking toward activation after getting through running and baseball work without a setback.

So this was not a surprise pivot. It was the final step in a process the Blue Jays had been building toward for days, and Jiménez happened to be the roster casualty when it arrived.

There is still a chance Toronto keeps him in the organization if he clears waivers. But once a player gets designated for assignment, the message is obvious: the club no longer sees him as essential to the active roster.

For Jiménez, that is a rough ending to what started as a useful opportunity. For the Blue Jays, it is a reminder that getting healthier often means making a hard call on the player who filled in.

And for John Schneider, the choice was direct. George Springer is back, and Eloy Jiménez is the one paying for it.