TORONTO -- The Blue Jays claimed catcher Beau Taylor off waivers from the Athletics prior to Friday’s series opener against the Mariners, a move that protects their catching depth behind Danny Jansen and Reese McGuire.

Taylor, 29, was immediately optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, where Michael De La Cruz has been handling most of the catching duties. With Luke Maile on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain and no immediate timetable for his return, Taylor is now the next catcher in line.

“That will give us protection in case one of our guys gets hurt,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said.

Taylor has spent all nine of his professional seasons in the Athletics’ organization after being selected in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He’s appeared in 16 MLB games over the past two seasons, hitting .185/.333/.455, with two homers. In 62 Pacific Coast League games this season, the lefty-hitting Taylor has put up a .257/.408/.461 slash line, with eight homers.

While the Blue Jays are clearly set with Jansen and McGuire at the Major League level, the breakdown of their playing time is still something to monitor over the last month and a half of the regular season.

“It could be Danny Jansen, two, McGuire, one. On a day game like Sunday, whoever catches Saturday will not catch on Sunday; kind of like that,” Montoyo said. “They’ve both been playing.”

Jansen appeared in his 92nd game of the season on Friday and has quietly turned things around after a slow start at the plate. Toronto's coaching staff has praised his work behind the plate all season and, while he’s still expected to have the slight edge in playing time down the stretch, McGuire will get his looks.

Montoyo and the Blue Jays have '20 and beyond in mind with many of these decisions. Much like Rowdy Tellez’s increased playing time after his recent promotion, McGuire’s playing time will give the club an opportunity to see exactly what they have entering the offseason.

On the surface level, though, the Blue Jays appear to have two talented young catchers who could potentially complement each other offensively and can be trusted to handle a young and evolving pitching staff.

“I enjoy watching McGuire, too,” Montoyo said. “Danny also, of course, but [McGuire] has been pretty good behind the plate. The umpires talk good about him. This guy presents [the ball] and he’s been getting a lot of strikes.”