Blue Jays notebook: Catcher swap sends Reese McGuire to White Sox for Zack Collins

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This article was published 03/04/2022 (1328 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DUNEDIN, Fla.—The Blue Jays addressed their catching conundrum Sunday, dealing Reese McGuire to the Chicago White Sox for fellow backstop Zack Collins.

McGuire, 27, is out of minor-league options, and the Jays were considering carrying three catchers on opening day — like they did toward the end of last season, when rosters expanded — to avoid losing one for nothing.

Collins, also 27, has an option year remaining, giving the Jays more freedom to send him down until there’s a need, with Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk sharing the big-league workload.

Collins played 78 games with the White Sox last season, occasionally at DH, with four home runs, 26 RBIs and a .210/.330/.338 slashline. Last season was also McGuire’s busiest in the majors, with 198 at-bats over 78 games.

If Collins doesn’t make the opening 40-man roster, which must be set by Thursday, the Jays can still add another player. Manager Charlie Montoyo said Sunday the final decisions weren’t close to being made. The Jays open Friday against the Texas Rangers at the Rogers Centre.

Their No. 1 prospect, catcher Gabriel Moreno, is likely headed to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, general manager Ross Atkins told Sportsnet’s Arash Madani. Moreno is at extended spring training in Florida, after arriving late to camp because of visa issues.

No stopping Vlad

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pleaded innocent after he ignored a stop sign from third-base coach Luis Rivera in the first inning of the Jays’ 7-5 win over the New York Yankees on Sunday.

“I kept going to home plate because I didn’t see Luis doing the stop sign,” Guerrero said post-game, with a smile. “Of course, if I would have seen him I would have stopped, but I didn’t see him.”

Toronto was down 2-0 with Bo Bichette on second base and Guerrero at first when Bichette broke to steal third. Yankees starter Luis Gil made a wild throw and Bichette came around to score, but Rivera clearly tried to stop Guerrero from advancing past third on the play. He was saved when the throw to the plate got away from New York catcher Max McDowell.

“I just wanted to get to home plate,” Guerrero said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve run first to home plate, so I just wanted to get there.”

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Guerrero, who slimmed down for the second straight off-season, said he feels faster on the bases this year. Montoyo said the play showed how good Guerrero is feeling, adding that the team will be aggressive on the basepaths this year.

“I’m telling you, because he’s big people, don’t think he’s fast,” Montoyo said. “We don’t want him to be 30-30 (homers and stolen bases). But 30-10, I’ll take that, or 40-10. But he can do it. He’s so talented — instincts.”

Roster notes

Ryan Borucki is considered day-to-day with right hamstring tightness following an MRI on Saturday. The left-hander was pulled from Friday’s game after he slid on the mound and felt discomfort. Montoyo said Borucki is still competing for a job on opening day … Right-hander Nate Pearson was out again Sunday with an unspecified illness … Closer Jordan Romano pitched in a minor-league game after spraining his ankle last week.

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy