From all appearances, things likely came down to a choice between keeping Downs or Dustin McGowan in the rotation. In that comparison, Toronto opted for current performance over potential. McGowan, who spent most of his season with Double-A New Hampshire, will work out of the bullpen for the duration of the year.
"He got here ahead of schedule and he's done a nice job for us," Gibbons said of McGowan. "We'll keep an eye on him and he'll get plenty of steady work out there anyway. And you never know what can happen."