DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Just before noon yesterday, manager Cito Gaston invited pitcher Brad Mills into his office for the chat that Mills had known in his heart was coming the night previous.
When he came out of the game in Clearwater against the Phillies after allowing 10 hits and seven runs (five earned), Mills understood that his fate was sealed. His bid to join the opening day Toronto rotation had fallen just short.
Mills, catcher Raul Chavez and Joe Inglett were farmed out yesterday, leaving the Jays with their 25-man roster.
Chavez and Mills were returned to the minor-league camp, probably destined to triple-A Las Vegas, while Inglett was optioned directly to Las Vegas.
That leaves Canadian Scott Richmond as the fifth starter to begin the season.
A native of North Vancouver, B.C., Richmond is the first Canadian to be in the Toronto rotation since Paul Quantrill started the 1996 season in that spot.
"I can breathe a little easier now," said Richmond, who pitches against the Tigers today. "I still focus on my start but I don't go out there thinking every pitch is on the line.
"I'm a mature guy and can handle it. But I'll feel good knowing that it's not a decision-making start.
Mills, level-headed as always, accepted his demotion as just another step in his development.
"One of these days the time will be right," Mills said. "I told Cito in there I don't want to go (to Toronto) and not have success.
"Based on (Tuesday) and the last couple of outings, I'm not at the top of my game. So it's like: 'What's the point of going up there?' if I'm not going to have success.
"I trust that when it happens I'm going to be ready and I'm fine with that."
In his recent starts, Mills was unable to locate his pitches down in the zone. He fell behind hitters, who then were able sit on his fastball.
"When I first got drafted I told myself I'd need one year at each level. I'm way ahead of that curve right now."
Meanwhile, minor-league right-hander Matt Bush was released by the Jays for violating team guidelines.
Bush, 23, was drafted by the San Diego Padres No. 1 overall as a shortstop in 2004 and converted to a pitcher after three unproductive seasons.
After the latest of several run-ins with the law involving alcohol, the Padres released Bush prior to spring training.
The Jays signed him Feb. 10 but announced yesterday he was dismissed for "failure to comply with team guidelines set out for him."
