Gibbons: Sanchez moving to bullpen is 'gonna happen'

The Toronto Blue Jays are going to have to make a tough decision when it comes to right-handed starter Aaron Sanchez's potential switch to the bullpen. Manager John Gibbons understands that while the move is going to be an unpopular one, it has to happen.

"We're still in discussion right now what that actual number is before we bump him to the 'pen, but it's gonna happen," the skipper told ESPN's Buster Olney during a radio appearance Tuesday when asked if and when Sanchez will make the switch.

"For safety reasons, health reasons, he's going to end up down there, but what that's going to do is give us a real shot in the arm down there as well."

Sanchez won a starting job out of spring training and has produced a 6-1 record with a 3.38 ERA, but the 23-year-old is on an innings limit after only pitching more than 100 innings twice during his professional career.

"We've been talking about it. We haven't put a concrete number on that yet. But that was the plan, if we were going to use him in the rotation there's going to be a time this year that he's got to go to the bullpen. He really hasn't thrown a whole lot the last couple of years because we've been using him out of the bullpen.

The hurler, whose already thrown 85 1/3 innings this season, tossed 100 1/3 during his 2014 campaign in the minors and accumulated 102 split between the minors and big leagues in 2015.

"The thing is about ol’ Sanchie - every time he goes out there, he's going six, seven, eight innings, so he's burning up some innings pretty quick."

A move to the bullpen wouldn't create an unfamiliar situation for the youngster though, as he's made 54 appearances out of the 'pen for Toronto in his career, recording three saves in '14.

If Sanchez is moved to the 'pen, the Blue Jays could use Gavin Floyd or Jesse Chavez, who've combined for 245 career starts, or Drew Hutchison, whose currently pitching at Triple-A, to fill the void.