Manager John Gibbons said that he still wants Grilli to take on a high-leverage role out of the bullpen -- a job he was recently demoted from -- but noted that the reliever needs to work out some kinks before that happens, Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Grilli struggled through most of the season so far, but he's beginning to show signs of rounding into form. "I do think he looks better. I think his velocity is coming back a little bit," Gibbons said. "I think his slider's better. That's what was worrying me a little bit, the slider. It started to roll a little bit or getting the big sweeping one. And that's always been the pitch he would go to when behind the count, he can drop that in at will, a good one. But he looks a lot better." Grilli logged 21 holds in 46 games with Toronto last year, but relinquished his set-up role this season to Joe Smith after racking up three losses and a 10.38 ERA in his first 10 appearances. Even with Gibbons' encouraging words, the veteran is no longer in control of his own fate. Smith has been dominant in the eighth-inning role, and Grilli won't get that job back unless the former slips up at some point.