DUNEDIN, Fla -- The potential loss of Red Sox starter David Price could alter the American League East this season, but the Blue Jays aren't thinking about it in those terms. They seem more concerned about their former ace and hope Price's sore left elbow doesn't land him on the disabled list for long.
"Hopefully it doesn't come to that," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "You hate to hear that news. You know around here we're all big fans of David, what he did for us, and you know the kind of guy he is."
While Price waits for additional opinions, Gibbons realizes all of the mileage over the years may have taken its toll. Price piled up 220 1/3 innings with Detroit and Toronto in 2015, and he led the AL with 230 as a member of the Red Sox last season.
"I feel pretty privileged to [have] had the chance to manage him, but he's logged a lot of innings," Gibbons said. "He's been one of the true workhorses in baseball."
That said, Gibbons knows whatever happens, he expects Price to rebound.
"He'll bounce back, I know that," Gibbons said. "It always gets your attention because he's one of the good guys."
Worth noting
Sparkman update: Gibbons saw injuries hit his own pitching staff on Thursday when Rule 5 Draft pick Glenn Sparkman sustained a broken right thumb in a fluke injury during morning fielding drills.
A day later, there is still no timetable for Sparkman's return.
"No, I don't have a final thing," Gibbons said. "He did some kind of fracture in there. What length of time or anything like that, I couldn't tell you."
One thing the Blue Jays do know is that the injury will prevent Sparkman from cracking the team's bullpen in the short term.
"It's gonna set him back," Gibbons said. "One of those things that happens, freak thing. It's too bad. Just gotta move on right now."
Donaldson update: Although he still hasn't played in a Spring Training game, Gibbons says the team can already feel the presence of Josh Donaldson in the clubhouse.
"When he's around, you know he's around," Gibbons said.
A day after taking his first batting practice of the spring, Donaldson (right calf strain) worked more indoors on Friday as he approaches a return at his own pace.

"He really looks good when you watch him hit," Gibbons said. "He's moving along pretty good. Once he gets going, there really shouldn't be any setbacks, I wouldn't think."
So when will Donaldson make his spring debut?
"I'm not sure when, but I wouldn't think it would be too far off," Gibbons said.
Quote of the day
"Salty always [has had] a lot of power. He's gonna hit some home runs, he's gonna strike out, so he'll fit in good around here." -- Gibbons, on the early impression of veteran catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia with his new free-swinging Blue Jays lineup