Blue Jays Designate Jose Urena, Promote Easton Lucas

The Toronto Blue Jays have designated right-handed pitcher Jose Urena for assignment to clear a roster spot for left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas, who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. Urena, 33, appeared in six games for the Blue Jays with a 3.65 ERA over 12.1 innings and has a career 4.78 ERA across 239 MLB games. Lucas, 28, is a rookie who showed early promise with two scoreless starts but struggled in subsequent outings, leading to a demotion. The Blue Jays are utilizing Lucas, who has demonstrated the potential to contribute both as a starter and in long relief, especially amid rotation depth issues following Jake Bloss's season-ending surgery. This move comes as the Blue Jays seek to maintain momentum, having won five straight games and sitting 5.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East. Lucas is expected to see action in an upcoming bullpen day against the Athletics, serving as a potential building block for the team's pitching staff.