TORONTO (AP) -Infielder Ray Olmedo was purchased from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday by the Toronto Blue Jays, who designated shortstop Royce Clayton for assignment.
Olmedo batted .290 with one home run and 26 RBIs in 97 games at Triple-A, making 16 errors.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons plans to use Olmedo as a utility infielder for the remainder of the season while he auditions the 25-year-old for a similar role next year.
“We’ll see what he can do,” Gibbons said. “He’ll play some short here. He’ll play a little second base and give (Aaron) Hill a day off every now and then.”
Drafted by Cincinnati in 1999, Olmedo appeared in 171 games for the Reds over parts of four seasons, batting .230 with two homers and 25 RBIs. The Blue Jays claimed him off waivers in January.
“Getting this opportunity again is exciting,” Olmedo said.
The 37-year-old Clayton appeared in 69 games for the Blue Jays this season, batting .254 with one home run and 12 RBIs. The Blue Jays have 10 days to trade Clayton, release him or send him to the minor leagues.
Clayton had been splitting time at shortstop with John McDonald, but saw his playing time dwindle as the season progressed.
“With what Royce has accomplished in this game, it’s not fair to have him just sitting around here rotting,” Gibbons said. “He’s had too much of an accomplished career.”
Clayton made his major league debut with San Francisco in 1991 and has played for 10 teams, hitting .254 with 110 homers and 723 RBIs. He was an All-Star for St. Louis in 1997.
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