TORONTO -- The Blue Jays optioned outfield prospectAnthony Alford to Triple-A Buffalo following Sunday afternoon's 5-3 loss to the Red Sox.
Alford appeared in seven games for the Blue Jays this season, going 2-for-14 with a stolen base and two runs scored. Toronto is not expected to announce a corresponding roster move until Tuesday when the team visits the Mets in New York.
The departure of Alford is hardly surprising, considering he was a short-term addition while Steve Pearce and Curtis Granderson dealt with lingering injuries. Pearce is still on the disabled list, but Granderson has since returned and while Alford stuck around for a few more days because Boston used three consecutive left-handed starters, the writing had been on the wall.
The main reason behind the roster move is to make sure Alford continues his development by playing every day. That simply wasn't going to happen with the Blue Jays as they have a starting outfield of Granderson, Kevin Pillar and Teoscar Hernandez. Triple-A Buffalo outfielder John Smith would be a more appropriate fit as a reserve player off the bench.
The demotion of Alford was the second roster move of the day for the Blue Jays. Prior to Sunday's series finale, Toronto recalled right-hander William McGuire from Buffalo and optioned prospect Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to the Minor Leagues. That move will create more playing time for Richard Urena, who is more of a natural fit at shortstop, as Toronto went with a three-man bench Sunday.
To make room on the 40-man roster for McGuire, right-hander Carlos Ramirez was designated for assignment. Ramirez made his Major League debut last season as a September callup following a season in which he did not allow a single earned run across two levels in the Minor Leagues. Ramirez has struggled a bit this year, throwing to a 5.40 ERA in Buffalo, but he has options remaining on his contract and seems unlikely to pass through waivers unclaimed.