Blue Jays refresh bullpen with roster moves
Coke declines Minor League option; Rasmussen, Redmond recalled
ST. PETERSBURG -- Left-hander Phil Coke declined his optional assignment to the Minor Leagues on Monday afternoon and instead elected to become a free agent. He was one of three pitchers the Blue Jays sent to the Minors following a 13-9 loss to the Orioles on Sunday afternoon. With more than six years of service time, Coke had the ability to decline the assignment.
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Right-handers Ryan Tepera and Scott Copeland also were optioned to the Minors following the loss to Baltimore. Prior to Monday's game vs. the Rays, Toronto recalled lefty Rob Rasmussen and selected the contract of right-hander Todd Redmond from Triple-A Buffalo. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey also was activated from the bereavement list.
Coke, 32, signed a Minor League deal with the Blue Jays this month. He made two appearances in a Blue Jays uniform and allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings.
Rasmussen has appeared in 21 games -- one start -- for Buffalo this year, going 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA. The 26-year-old pitched in 10 Major League games last year, posting a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings.
This will be Redmond's third stint in the Major Leagues this year. In three previous outings -- one start -- for Toronto, he owned an 11.88 ERA in 8 1/3 innings. His presence will give the Blue Jays a traditional long reliever, which is something they've been without in June.
"I think everybody likes that," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of adding a long reliever. "Red is perfect with that, he has been good for us doing that. We're definitely beat up down there today, but we should be OK."
Dickey was on the bereaveament list since Friday after his father, Harry Lee Dickey, died on Tuesday.