Travis taking swings, unlikely to return in '15

NEW YORK -- Devon Travis has begun swinging a bat, but the Blue Jays still do not appear overly optimistic that he will be able to return before the end of the year.

Toronto transferred its second baseman to the 60-day disabled list on Friday afternoon to make room on the 40-man roster for Marcus Stroman. Travis technically would be eligible to return Sept. 26, but that seems unlikely.

Travis has been out since July 28 with a left shoulder strain. He's taking the rehab process day by day and there is no timetable for increased baseball activities.

"He's swinging the bat a little bit," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He's not hitting baseballs but he's taking those dry swings. ... A little bit [of progress], incremental, not as much as you expect."

Even if Travis were able to show a lot of progress over the next couple of weeks, he would face an uphill battle to make it back. The Minor League season came to an end, which means Travis wouldn't have the luxury of being able to go on a rehab assignment.

Travis instead is limited to gradually increase his workload at the club's Minor League complex in Dunedin, Fla. He would be able to take part in simulated games there, but it would be a drastic change going from that to facing big league pitching.

Unless something unexpected happens in the near future, the Blue Jays are expected to finish the year with a platoon of Ryan Goins and Cliff Pennington at second in Travis' absence.

"I don't know how realistic it is, but there's still life there," Gibbons said of a possible return for Travis.