Toronto sent RHP Roy Halladay back to the disabled list yesterday. Noting that he has not been pitching at the level to which the Blue Jays have become accustomed, the team ordered a thorough examination of Halladay's shoulder. The tests reportedly failed to uncover any tears or other problems that would require a surgical solution, so Halladay was diagnosed with fatigue and sent to the DL to rest. He will rest his shoulder for at least two weeks before beginning a program to strengthen and recondition the joint. Toronto has projected a DL stint of four to six weeks, but since the club is not in the race for the playoffs, the organization is not in a hurry for him to return. While the Blue Jays would probably like to see him make a couple of starts before the end of the season, the 27-year-old's trip to the disabled list seems more likely to last longer than estimated as opposed to wrapping up faster.

In Halladay's absence, Pat Hentgen has reclaimed at least a temporary a place in the rotation. Hentgen's ineffectiveness over the first three months of the season had caused Toronto to pull him from the rotation at the end of June. Unfortunately, nothing in the 35-year-old's numbers points to a rebound, so he may not last until Halladay returns.

RHP David Bush received the call to replace Hentgen on July 1st. The Blue Jays drafted Bush out of Wake Forest University with a second round pick in the 2002 draft. As a reliever, he split the remainder of that season between Auburn in the Short-Season New York-Pennsylvania League and A+ Dunedin in the Florida State League. He returned to A+ Dunedin as a starter in 2003 and earned a mid-season promotion to AA New Haven in the Eastern League, putting him in position to open 2004 at AAA Syracuse in the International League. Prior to his major league debut, he compiled an 88:20 K:BB with 108 H and 7 HR allowed in 99.2 IP for a 4.06 ERA over 16 starts at AAA this season. In his three major league starts, he's compiled a 12:5 K:BB with 15 H and no home runs allowed in 19.2 IP for a 2.29 ERA. As a fly ball pitcher, he may eventually run into some homer problems, but all of the 24-year-old's other skills seem solid. I expect him to remain an effective member of Toronto's rotation indefinitely.

In order to make room for Bush on the roster, the Blue Jays demoted RHP Mike Nakamura. Nakamura had returned to the majors on June 19th when C-R Bobby Estalella hit the DL due to an injured right ankle. While his other skills should continue to earn him opportunities, the 27-year-old likely will not be able to secure a regular place in a major league pen until he finds a way to allow less home runs. Toronto has not provided much information about Estalella's injury, and when he does recover, he likely will be sent to AAA.

2B-S Orlando Hudson, OF-R Vernon Wells, 1B-L Carlos Delgado, UT-L Frank Catalanotto, and RHP Kerry Ligtenberg have all returned from the disabled list. Hudson returned from the DL on June 16th and played well through the end of June, but he then began to struggle with his contact rate again.

Hudson's return marked the beginning of Vernon Well's month on the disabled list. Wells hurried back from his calf injury and may not yet be at full strength after rejoining the team on July 16th. The Blue Jays sent down UT-L Howie Clark to make room for Wells on the roster.

Carlos Delgado rejoined the team on July 6th. The 32-year-old appears to have fully recovered from his oblique strain, but he remains mired in the same slump that afflicted him prior to his injury.

Toronto demoted RHP Adam Peterson in order to make room for Delgado's return. Peterson had joined the team on June 22nd, when the Blue Jays designated LHP Jason Kershner for assignment. Drafted out of Wichita State University by Toronto in the fourth round of the 2002 draft, Peterson jumped directly from AA to the majors. The 25-year-old reliever was dominating the competition at AA New Hampshire in the Eastern League prior to his promotion but was not able to do much with his limited major league opportunity. He's now at AAA Syracuse, where he may spend the remainder of the season, depending on how extensively the Blue Jays expand their roster in September. If he's able to maintain his skills at AAA, Peterson should receive an opportunity to win a spot in the Toronto pen next spring. Kershner cleared waivers and accepted his minor league assignment.

Kerry Ligtenberg has not reported any problems since returning from his hip injury on June 26th. Ligtenberg's return marked the beginning of Catalanotto's second trip to the DL this year. Shortly after returning from his first trip to the disabled list, Catalanotto aggravated his groin injury. Although he's not fully recovered, he came off the disabled list to take the roster spot opened by Halladay's move to the disabled list yesterday. Consequently, he will not be playing at full strength and could easily suffer a setback that would require a third stint on the DL.