Since the end of the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays have technically bolstered their rotation with three starting pitchers.
The free-agent signing of Dylan Cease and the reported acquisition of Cody Ponce were brand-new additions, but the biggest surprise of the offseason in Toronto so far remained Shane Bieber picking up his player option. The two-time All-Star accepted a $16 million salary to return, which was even more puzzling because had he opted out, he would have been paid a $4 million buyout.
On Monday, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins provided some important context, telling the media that Bieber was dealing with forearm fatigue after returning from Tommy John surgery midseason and participating in a deep playoff run. Atkins said a return by opening day is in play, but that the Blue Jays are taking things week to week.
Given that uncertainty surrounding Bieber, it appears the Blue Jays are not necessarily satisfied with their starting pitching haul thus far.
On Tuesday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reported that Toronto is still scouring the market for other options to fortify the rotation.
“Though Atkins didn’t explicitly state Bieber’s injury in Orlando, his answers didn’t indicate the righty was entirely healthy after a return from surgery and long postseason push,” wrote Bannon.
“Even after signing starters Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, the Jays remain interested in adding starting pitching, a person briefed on the matter said. Bieber’s health is a slightly open question. It’s also difficult to rely on José Berríos after he lost a rotation spot late last year, and Trey Yesavage is coming off a career-high workload.”
Would Toronto go after another pitcher at the top of the market after signing Cease to a deal worth $30 million per year? It doesn’t seem all that likely, and Bannon didn’t seem to suggest it was possible, but one never knows how the other dominoes around the league might fall.
This year’s free-agent class has a lot of interesting bounce-back candidates as well, however, and the Blue Jays are beginning to build a clubhouse reputation that might entice those kinds of free agents to come to Toronto.
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