Sanchez named to Blue Jays' rotation, while Hutchison sent to Triple-A

Aaron Sanchez has been named to the starting rotation -- for now, at least -- and last year’s Opening Day starter Drew Hutchison has been sent to Triple-A Buffalo as the Toronto Blue Jays answered one of the last big questions facing them ahead of starting a new MLB season Sunday in Tampa.

The 23-year-old Sanchez came into this spring training season considered the favourite for the No. 5 spot in the Jays’ rotation, though not a sure thing. He held up his end in five Grapefruit League appearances including three starts, striking out 19 in 20 innings and recording a 1.35 ERA.

Sportsnet’s Mike Wilner reports that Sanchez’s role at the end of the rotation may not be permanent, and the National Post’s John Lott reported that Sanchez will be innings-capped. Sanchez worked 92 innings last year as a swingman, including 11 starts. His heaviest workload came in 2014, when he logged 100 innings at Triple-A Buffalo and Double-A New Hampshire.

In other related announcements by manager John Gibbons in Florida, righthander Gavin Floyd has made the Jays’ bullpen and will pitch long relief. Jesse Chavez, acquired from Oakland A’s in the offseason, will also pitch in relief for the big-league club. Both pitchers would be candidates to replace Sanchez in the starting rotation.

The Jays still need to make a call on No. 2 starter Marco Estrada, troubled by a sore back. Estrada starts Toronto's spring finale Wednesday, and a decision will be made after that whether he'll start the season on the DL -- and whether the Jays might content themselves with a four-man rotation for the first few days of the regular season, or perhaps draft Floyd into a starting role. Floyd, 33, has been limited to just 91 major-league innings over the past three seasons due to injuries but has impressed Jays management this spring.