The Blue Jays announced that they have outrighted left-hander Ricky Romero and catcher Mike Nickeas to Triple-A Buffalo after the pair cleared waivers.
Romero, at one point, was considered the team's ace following a 225-inning effort that saw him post a 2.92 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 2011. After finishing 10th in the AL Cy Young voting that season, Romero returned to post a 5.77 ERA in 181 innings. Romero dealt with injuries in both knees and underwent elbow surgery following the 2011 season, which could explain the steep decline in his performance. He's twice been removed from the team's 40-man roster and has a combined 5.67 in 135 minor league innings from 2012-13.
Romero is owed $7.5MM in 2014 and again in 2015 after agreeing to a five-year, $30.1MM contract extension with the Jays back in August of 2010. Toronto holds a $13.1MM club option on Romero for the 2016 season which is all but certain to be declined barring a sudden turnaround.
Nickeas, 30, hit .166/.255/.251 in 200 plate appearances at Buffalo this season after coming to the Blue Jays from the Mets in last winter's R.A. Dickey blockbuster.
