Matt Stairs will be replaced on the Toronto roster by prospect Travis Snider. (Duane Burleson/Associated Press) Toronto Blue Jays designated Matt Stairs for assignment after Thursday night's 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay, and the designated hitter/outfielder expects to be traded by Saturday.
"I can tell you that I am going to a contender, so that makes it a little easier to swallow," said Stairs, who would not name the team.
The Blue Jays would only say they were working on a potential deal.
"He's not shocked," manager Cito Gaston said. "He's a veteran. He knows it's that time of the year. He's fine."
Stairs, a 40-year-old native of Fredericton, is hitting .250 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 105 games.
Toronto also purchased outfielder Travis Snider's contract from triple-A Syracuse.
"We're going to play the kid and see what he's got," Gaston said.
© The Canadian Press, 2008
