Travis recently accepted a position on the coaching staff of Atlanta's rookie-level Gulf Coast League affiliate, signaling the end of his playing career, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Though he just turned 30 years old in February, Travis appears content to hang up his spikes after a slew of injuries derailed a once-promising playing career. After posting an .859 OPS across 238 plate appearances with the Blue Jays in his first big-league season in 2015, the second baseman proceeded to turn in a .267/.302/.423 slash line while appearing in only 254 games from 2016 through 2018. Travis missed the entire 2019 season after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee during spring training that required two separate surgeries, and he never found work elsewhere after being outrighted off the Blue Jays' roster that winter. He'll now move on to the next phase of his career in baseball in Atlanta, where he'll reunite with president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, who previously acquired Travis from Detroit in a November 2014 trade.
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Devon Travis: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Travis rejected his outright assignment and became a free agent Thursday.
Travis will enter free agency in the midst of a recent decline in production, but he could still get a chance with a team due to his age and glimpses of his abilities in the past. Last season, Travis hit .232/.275/.381 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Travis was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Should Travis elect to reject his minor-league assignment, he'll become a free agent. Over 103 games this year, he hit .232 with 11 homers, 44 RBI and three stolen bases.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Ruled out for season
Rotowire
Travis (knee) was ruled out for the season Tuesday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
Travis' odds of returning before the end of the year had long seemed slim, and he'll now officially shift his focus to next season. The second baseman has played in just 153 major-league games since the start of 2017.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Likely done for season
Rotowire
Travis (knee) isn't expected to return from the 60-day injured list this season, Alexis Brudnicki of MLB.com reports.
According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca, Travis has been working back from left knee surgery at the Blue Jays' spring training facility in Florida, but as of two weeks ago, the second baseman had yet to resume baseball activities. No news regarding Travis' workouts has surfaced since that time, and with less than two months left in the season, the 28-year-old has probably already run out of time to make it back to the big club even if he accelerates his rehab program soon. Travis remains arbitration-eligible for the next two seasons, but given his checkered health history and downward-trending performance since his rookie campaign, he could be a non-tender candidate this winter.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Resumes light baseball work
Rotowire
Travis (knee) has resumed light baseball activities, Alexis Brudnicki of MLB.com reports.
It's not exactly clear what type of work Travis has been able to get in, but he has apparently not experienced any issues. He still has several steps to go in his recovery before he is ready for game action again.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Still no baseball activities
Rotowire
Travis (knee) has not yet resumed baseball activities, Mike Wilner of Sportsnet 590 The Fan reports.
Travis has been out all season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He began baseball activities in mid-April but was shut down following a setback in mid-May. The second baseman is still working on strengthening his lower body and does not appear to be close to a return to action.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Suffers setback
Rotowire
Travis (knee) experienced soreness during his activity progression, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
He had a follow-up with a surgeon who determined there was no structural damage. Travis received a PRP injection for the inflammation and will restart baseball activities once symptoms subside. He should be considered out indefinitely.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Begins hitting
Rotowire
Travis (knee) began hitting off a tee Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Travis has resumed baseball activities following surgery on his left knee in March. This is a definite step forward for the 28-year-old second baseman, although he still has a long road ahead of him before he'll return to action. Travis will be eligible to come off the injured list at the end of May, but it remains to be seen if he'll be ready.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Nearing baseball activities
Rotowire
Travis (knee) had his post-operation appointment Friday and is set to resume baseball activities next week, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Travis underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee in mid-March and is on the 60-day injured list. The 28-year-old still has significant rehab work ahead of him and will have to go through an abbreviated spring training before making his return.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Placed on 60-day IL
Rotowire
Travis (knee) was placed on the 60-day injured list Monday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Travis underwent surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee earlier in the month, and his placement on the 60-day IL means he won't be eligible to return until the end of May at the earliest. The move frees up a spot on the team's 40-man roster for Daniel Hudson, who was signed to a one-year deal Monday. Look for Richard Urena to fill in as a reserve infielder in his absence, while Lourdes Gurriel and Freddy Galvis occupy the middle of Toronto's infield.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Out at least one month
Rotowire
Travis underwent surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee and will be reevaluated in 4-to-6 weeks, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
This is another tough blow for Travis, who has been hindered by injuries throughout his career. The second baseman will continue rehabbing in Florida, and if everything goes as planned, he should be cleared to resume baseball activities in mid-to-late April. Travis will still need go through an abbreviated spring training once he's cleared to resume baseball activities, suggesting he won't be ready to return until sometime in May at the earliest. With Travis set to open the season on the IL, Richard Urena looks poised to break camp in his place as a reserve infielder.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Spectator again
Rotowire
Travis (knee) isn't included in the lineup Saturday for either of the Blue Jays' split-squad Grapefruit League games.
Travis has been sidelined for two weeks while battling inflammation in his left knee and could be in danger of opening the season on the injured list if he fails to rejoin the Jays' spring lineup within the next few days. If Travis is sidelined to begin the campaign, Richard Urena would be in strong position to break camp as a utility infielder while Lourdes Gurriel and Freddy Galvis would serve as Toronto's primary options in the middle infield.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Still sitting out
Rotowire
Travis (knee) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
The Blue Jays haven't outlined a timeline for Travis' return to the lineup while he continues to battle knee inflammation, a condition that has sidelined him for just over two weeks. If Travis is forced to open the season on the injured list, Lourdes Gurriel and Freddy Galvis would pick up some added job security as the Blue Jays' primary middle infielders.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Out again Sunday
Rotowire
Travis (knee) is not in the lineup for Sunday's spring game against the Twins, according to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet.
Travis still has not seen action since Feb. 25 because of his injury. It remains to be seen if he will be ready to return to action Tuesday following a team off day Monday for the Blue Jays.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Not ready to play
Rotowire
Travis (knee) is out of the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
Travis has been dealing with left knee inflammation for about a week and it's unclear at this time how close he might be to rejoining the lineup. If the second baseman isn't cleared to play at some point during the upcoming week, he may have a tough time avoiding the injured list ahead of Opening Day.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Out again Thursday
Rotowire
Travis (knee) is not in the lineup for Thursday's spring game against the Rays, according to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet.
Travis will continue to sit due to the knee inflammation he has been dealing with lately. The Blue Jays have not provided a projected return date for Travis, so his status remains in question with Opening Day three weeks away.
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Blue Jays' Devon Travis: Sidelined with knee issue
Rotowire
Travis is dealing with inflammation in his left knee, Mike Wilner of Sportsnet 590 The Fan reports.
He has been out of game action since Monday and will be re-evaluated Tuesday. Wilner notes that this is the other knee for Travis -- issues with his right knee have essentially derailed his career over the last few years. If Travis opens the year on the injured list, Lourdes Gurriel would likely be the everyday second baseman while Richard Urena or Eric Sogard could break camp as a utility infielder.
Travis signed a one-year, $1.925 million contract with the Blue Jay on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jaime Campbell of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Travis posted his worst numbers in the majors with a .232/.275/.381 slash line and 11 home runs in 378 plate appearances last season, which included a demotion to the minors. 2019 could very well be the 27-year-old's last legitimate chance to show the Blue Jays what he can do given his struggles at the plate and consistent injury issues over the last couple years.
