Blue Jays' Cecil placed on DL after groin injury returns

NEW YORK -- Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil was placed on the disabled list after it became very apparent during Wednesday night's game against the Yankees that his groin injury has yet to completely heal.

Cecil was called upon to pitch during the seventh inning with one out and the bases loaded. He walked the first batter he faced before eventually serving up a bases-clearing triple to New York's Brian McCann.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons hinted after the game that something wasn't quite right with Cecil, but the reliever took things one step further when he revealed the club's upcoming plan.

"I'm going on the DL," Cecil said following the 7-3 loss. "I just checked with them to make sure we're all on the same page, and I will be going on the DL.

"It stinks, but I said I was ready to go today, everything felt good, but I also said I don't know how it's going to hold up under the adrenaline of coming out of the bullpen, especially in Yankee Stadium, bases loaded. If I can't deal with that, then I need to get it taken care of."

The Blue Jays made the move official on Thursday and recalled right-hander Steve Delabar to replace Cecil on the roster.

Cecil sustained the injury during Friday's game against the Orioles. He received a few days off and was then cleared to pitch against New York on Wednesday. Now, instead of being able to backdate Cecil's stint on the DL, he will be out for at least the next 15 days.

The 27-year-old thought he was good to go, because there wasn't any pain when he threw off flat ground or in the bullpen. That changed when the intensity level picked up vs. the Yankees, and the discomfort resurfaced two pitches into his outing.

Toronto has yet to make the roster move official, but right-hander Steve Delabar could make his return just two days after he was optioned to the Minor Leagues. If the Blue Jays prefer another left-handed reliever out of the bullpen, Rob Rasmussen likely will be back for his second stint of the season.

"I kind of wish I gave it a few more days," Cecil lamented. "I like to compete and I don't like to sit on the sidelines and watch. If I think I'm good enough to get out there, then I'm going to give them the OK to get me out there. Just stinks."