Blue Jays seeking versatility with promotions

KANSAS CITY -- After losing six of their last seven games in April, the Blue Jays tweaked their roster on Thursday by selecting the contract of infielder Steve Tolleson and recalling outfielder Anthony Gose from Triple-A Buffalo, while optioning infielder Jonathan Diaz to Buffalo and designating outfielder Moises Sierra for assignment.

Tolleson, 30, appeared in 19 games for the Bisons, batting .236 with one home run, nine RBIs, 12 walks and a .345 on-base percentage. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed hitter has played in 54 Major League games for Oakland and Baltimore over two seasons, posting a .225 average with three home runs and 10 RBIs.

Gose, 23, batted .235 for Buffalo in 19 games, walking 12 times in 68 at-bats for a .350 OBP. The Paramount, Calif., native has spent parts of the past three seasons with the Blue Jays, hitting .238 with three home runs, 23 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 109 games.

Sierra was just 2-for-34 after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as the designated hitter in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Royals.

"[Sierra] was scuffling," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "In all fairness to him, the role he was in didn't allow him to get steady at-bats. That's awful tough on a young guy trying to establish himself."

Gibbons said the Tolleson-for-Diaz switch is designed to create a little more infield offense and Tolleson's versatility could come in handy with upcoming Interleague series against the Pirates and Phillies.

"We're looking to beef up the offense a little and it adds a little team speed," Gibbons said.