This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
TORONTO — Constructing a deep, sturdy MLB roster will be an act of pessimism.
Whereas optimism is what we hear publicly, kicking into overdrive within the heat glow of Spring Coaching, good entrance places of work obsess over what may go mistaken and the way they’ll keep one step forward of that.
“If ____ occurs, are we coated?”
Take a look at the Blue Jays’ bullpen in 2024. When issues went mistaken, the group wasn’t coated, and it changed into a protracted, painful season for that group. Including no less than two reliable relievers is atop the Blue Jays’ record this offseason, however Toronto’s rotation is in the identical spot it’s been for a number of seasons now.
The beginning 5 look sturdy, however past that, there’s cause to fret … which implies there’s cause to behave.
Toronto’s veteran rotation — led by Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt — has been dominant at occasions. Even when this group isn’t at its finest, it’s nonetheless a lot dependable, an unbelievable luxurious that few different organizations have. Most necessary of all, this group has been wholesome. There’s greater than luck concerned right here, notably among the many three veterans who’ve made sturdiness an artwork kind, however the Blue Jays are lengthy overdue for a season the place they’re 9 or 10 starters deep.
That is why, though the rotation doesn’t appear to be the Blue Jays’ most obtrusive want, the membership has already begun to focus on that market.
Current depth: Who’s up subsequent?
Jake Bloss is an important pitcher.
The Bloss acquisition — within the commerce that despatched Yusei Kikuchi to Houston — was all about 2025 and past, given the realities of this rotation. The 23-year-old right-hander didn’t precisely mild it up after becoming a member of the Blue Jays, posting a 6.91 ERA over eight begins with Triple-A Buffalo, however he was pitching extraordinarily properly previous to the commerce. In an ideal world, the Blue Jays will open the season with Bloss in Triple-A because the “subsequent man up,” one thing they haven’t had a transparent choice for in years.
Past that, it’s cloudier. That is the place former No. 1 prospect Ricky Tiedemann (presently ranked as No. 4) would have been positioned completely, however he underwent left elbow surgical procedure in 2024 and can miss no less than the primary half of ’25, if not longer. The identical goes for Alek Manoah, who will begin his season rehabbing from proper elbow surgical procedure on the Blue Jays’ advanced in Dunedin, Fla. Luck and timing haven’t been Toronto’s buddies.
Whom will the Blue Jays goal?
That is all about how the membership views Yariel Rodríguez, its greatest and highest-upside signing from final offseason.
Rodríguez, who shall be 28 when subsequent season opens, posted a 4.47 ERA within the massive leagues and threw a complete of 107 innings in 2024. He’s positioned himself properly to push as much as the 140-inning vary as a starter subsequent yr, however the right-hander has the flexibility to work as a swingman, as he pitched in high-leverage single-inning spots throughout his time in Japan. Rodríguez can do all of it, and though he desires to be a starter — very clearly — he feels just like the movable piece, with the Blue Jays hoping to provide Bowden Francis a extra everlasting run as a starter.
Common supervisor Ross Atkins alluded to this at his year-end press convention, and whereas transferring Rodríguez to the bullpen has at all times been an choice, the Blue Jays can’t simply do it for the sake of doing it. Rodríguez is proficient and he nonetheless has potential forward of him, so if he’s going to be bounced round, it must work.
As for the obtainable arms in free company? The Blue Jays love sturdiness and athleticism. This factors to pitchers like outdated buddy Kikuchi or Max Fried (who will possible be a bit dear). However this market is much extra engaging if the Blue Jays open themselves as much as some threat and upside with the likes of Shane Bieber.
Essentially the most engaging identify, although, is Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old Japanese star who is predicted to signal with an MLB membership for the 2025 season.
Gamers youthful than 25 who haven’t reached six years of service in a international main league are topic to MLB’s worldwide beginner signing bonus pool guidelines, so Sasaki’s contract will look just like what you see every year for 16-year-olds out of Latin America, not just like the 12-year, $325 million deal Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed.
The Dodgers are broadly considered as the favourite right here, however the Blue Jays — like several group with a mind — can have severe curiosity and pursue Sasaki.
