Carlos Villanueva has told Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulous that he still wants to start but would be more willing to compete for a rotation job with them. Villanueva said last month that he wanted any interested team to guarantee him 30 starts next season, which is something the Blue Jays wouldn't be able to do following their acquisition of Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson. He could come to camp to compete with J.A. Happ for the final job in the rotation, but the reality is that he's likely to wind up elsewhere.

Free agent Carlos Villanueva wants any interested team to guarantee him 30 starts next season. Villanueva has been shuffled in and out of the rotation most of his career, but he pitched well enough as a starter in 2012 that some team should be willing to grant him his request. It could be the Blue Jays, as general manager Alex Anthopoulous said he'd have no problem relying on the righty for 30 starts. "Absolutely, I've never doubted Carlos," Anthopoulous said.

Carlos Villanueva will not start Tuesday against the Twins. No word on the reason for the change. The Blue Jays have been worried that Villanueva was wearing down, so they might have decided to shut him down for the year. Assuming that's the case, he'll head into free agency with a 4.16 ERA and 112/46 K/BB ratio over 125 1/3 innings. Chad Jenkins will start in his place Tuesday.

Carlos Villanueva got lit up in Wednesday's 12-2 loss to the Orioles, allowing six runs on seven hits - four of which left the ballpark - in 4 2/3 innings of work. Villanueva struck out seven and walked one in falling to 7-7. Villanueva has now allowed at least six runs in back-to-back starts, and is sporting an 8.10 ERA through 26 2/3 September innings. Not exactly the best way to head into the open market for the impending free agent. Villanueva's final start should come on Monday against the Twins.

Blue Jays manager John Farrell said Carlos Villanueva (fatigue) is "back to normal" and on track to start Wednesday. Villanueva was rocked in his last outing, and the Jays are worried he might be wearing down. But, evidently the team isn't overly concerned. "He's back to normal," Farrell said. "He is ready to start [Wednesday] and on tap for that. But as we've stated other times, too, this time of year guys are dealing with some general fatigue and that's no different in this case."

Blue Jays manager John Farrell said the team will keep an eye on Carlos Villanueva during his remaining starts for signs of weakness or fatigue. Villanueva lacked zip on his fastball in his last outing and was lit up by the Rays for seven runs over 2 1/3 innings. The righty has made a career-high 15 starts this season and might be wearing down. "He feels a little bit more soreness than from his previous starts, which is not totally unexpected at this time of the year," said Farrell. "If that soreness persists, we'll take any measure to identify if there's anything going on there physically."

Carlos Villanueva was destroyed in Friday's loss to the Rays, surrendering seven runs on eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings of work. Villanueva also issued two walks while uncharacteristically recording zero strikeouts in the abbreviated outing. Ben Zobrist and Jose Molina each blasted homers in the thrashing. Villanueva seems to be tiring down the stretch, and has posted a 7.36 ERA and 1.5 WHIP over his last four starts. He'll look to get back on track when he takes on the Orioles in Baltimore on Wednesday.

Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun reports that the Royals have interest in pending free agent Carlos Villanueva and have had scouts at some of his starts of late. "Big park to pitch in," said Villanueva when asked about the Royals' potential interest. Villanueva has been used as a starter and a reliever during his career, but Kansas City desperately needs starting pitching and would almost surely want the righty in that role. He's put up a 3.49 ERA and 79/22 K/BB ratio in 85 innings over 14 starts this year.

Carlos Villanueva yielded two runs in seven-plus innings Saturday in a no-decision against the Red Sox. Villanueva allowed just four hits (including a solo homer by Cody Ross) and two walks while striking out six. He was pulled after issuing a leadoff walk in the eighth. Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulous questioned Villanueva's ability to hold up as a starting pitcher earlier this week, but the impending free agent now has a 3.49 ERA and 79/22 K/BB ratio in 85 innings over 14 starts this year. It will be fascinating to see what happens with him this winter.

Carlos Villanueva expressed disappointment Thursday that Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos questioned his ability to hold up as a starting pitcher. "People are afraid I might blow out. Look, guys blow out every year for any reason at all," said Villanueva, an impending free agent. "I don't really like the advertisement. GMs are influential." Villanueva spoke with Anthopoulos about the matter on Wednesday and is still open to returning to the Blue Jays, but is excited to see what's out there in free agency. The 29-year-old right-hander has been a nice surprise this season, posting a 3.48 ERA and 109/41 K/BB ratio in 111 1/3 innings over 13 starts and 22 relief appearances.