Blue Jays GM confirms Trey Yesavage's return date

Ross Atkins said Friday that the Blue Jays are still discussing Yesavage's next step. The choice is simple on paper, even if it is not easy in practice. Toronto can bring him to the majors soon or send him for more rehab work.

That makes this less about hype and more about timing. Yesavage is close enough that the front office is openly weighing a major-league return, which means the shoulder question has shifted into a readiness question.

The strongest case for a call-up came last week. MLB.com reported that Yesavage threw 71 pitches over 4 1/3 innings for Triple-A Buffalo in what could have been his final rehab start.

That outing looked like the kind of marker Toronto had been waiting for. He was stretched out deeper, the pitch count climbed into starter territory, and the Blue Jays finally had a real window to picture him back in the rotation.

Then the decision got less clean. CBS Sports reported Friday that Atkins and the Blue Jays are still deciding whether Yesavage needs another minor-league rehab start or whether the next outing will come in the majors.

That hesitation tells you something. Toronto likes where this is heading, but it still wants to be sure before handing a 22-year-old right-hander a full return after a shoulder impingement.

There is real urgency on the club's side. MLB.com noted earlier this month that Yesavage's return mattered because the Blue Jays were working with only 4 healthy starters, putting extra strain on the rest of the staff.

That is why this conversation matters so much. Yesavage is not just another rehab arm. He is a live rotation option for a team that has needed innings, stability and upside at the same time.

Atkins also is not rushing to win one headline. A further rehab outing would give Yesavage another chance to build stamina, sharpen execution and prove the shoulder can handle one more full turn without trouble.

Bringing him up now would send a different message. It would say the Blue Jays believe the stuff, the workload and the health are all far enough along that the major-league club needs him more than Triple-A does.

That is why Atkins' update landed the way it did. It was not a promise, and it was not a delay. It was Toronto admitting the finish line is close enough to see, even if the club has not decided which step comes last.

For the Blue Jays, that is a good problem compared with where this started. Trey Yesavage is no longer just rehabbing. He is at the point where the only real question left is whether the next stop is Buffalo again or the Toronto rotation.