Schultz undergoing surgery on right elbow
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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Blue Jays right-hander Bo Schultz will undergo surgery in New York on Wednesday to have bone chips removed from his right elbow.
The surgeon will also take a closer look at the ligament in Schultz's elbow during the procedure. That would seem to indicate that Tommy John surgery has not been entirely ruled out, but the hope is that the injury is limited to bone chips.
Schultz had been in the mix for one of the final two spots in the bullpen. Aaron Loup and Mike Bolsinger appear to be the favorites to win the jobs in the final week of camp, but right-hander Ryan Tepera is still in the running as well.
Schultz made 16 appearances for the Blue Jays last season, posting a 5.51 ERA. He was hampered by a hip injury, but he was a key contributor in the bullpen in 2015, when he had a 3.56 ERA over 43 innings.
A timeline for Schultz's return will not be established until following the procedure.
Sanchez's next start in limbo
Aaron Sanchez is questionable for his final start of the spring because of a blister on his right hand. Sanchez developed a blister during Monday night's start against the Phillies, and he has since had the area drained.
Toronto will wait a few days before determining whether Sanchez will make his next start. His Grapefruit League season came to an end Monday, but he is supposed to make one more appearance in Minor League camp before the start of the regular season.
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Even if Sanchez doesn't make his next start, the expectation is that he will still be ready to go for his debut on April 8. Sanchez has dealt with blister issues in the past, but they typically clear up relatively quick.
"We'll see, it looks a heck of a lot better today, that's for sure," manager John Gibbons said Tuesday. "It's tender. Within the next couple of days, we'll have a better idea. He has dealt with those kind of things in the past. It's unfortunate, but he might be one of those guys who deals with it his whole career."
Roster set?
Gibbons hinted on Tuesday afternoon that the club has finalized its 25-man roster, but he said an official announcement likely won't come until the club travels to Montreal later this week. The only spots in question are left field, possibly a utility infielder and two bullpen spots.
The club will likely have to decide between Melvin Upton Jr. and Ryan Goins for the final spot on the roster. Upton would seem to have the edge, because he could start in left field against left-handed pitchers, which would leave Steve Pearce as a possible platoon partner for Justin Smoak at first base.
Toronto would risk losing Goins to waivers at the end of camp because he's out of options, which would hurt the club's depth.
"With the relievers, it's probably going to go down to Montreal," Gibbons said. "Other than that, we have a pretty good idea. ... It's just one of those formalities. We'll wait until the end. That's all I can say."