Healthy Sanchez could keep Jays well armed
Starter’s return to form after miserable 2017 is crucial heading into new season
Aaron Sanchez threw off the mound on Wednesday and looked like the dominant pitcher he was in 2016.
“The ball was coming out free and easy, lot of life to it, good movement,” said Toronto catcher Russell Martin.
“But all his pitches, they looked the same coming out and that’s kind of the key as a pitcher, the art of deception. Everything has to look the same. The change-up was coming out nice, the breaking stuff was sharp. The delivery just looked clean and he looked comfortable out there. Definitely good for a first day of work.”
It’s no secret that if the Toronto Blue Jays are going to have any chance of making the playoffs this season, Sanchez has to round back into form.
The American League ERA leader two seasons ago (3.00 with a 15-2 record), Sanchez suffered through a miserable campaign in 2017, landing on the DL four times as a result of blister issues on his right middle finger that resulted in him throwing only 36 innings with a 4.25 ERA.
After consulting numerous specialists, Sanchez and the Jays are hopeful the 25-year-old can bounce back.
From what he saw on Wednesday at Bobby Mattick Training Centre, Russell is optimistic.
“I believe he’s one of the best pitchers in the league, so if you can get a guy like that to stay healthy the whole year, it’s definitely going to help us,” Martin said.
“He’s the type of pitcher that can shut down the best of offences. When you have somebody like that, it just gives you a better opportunity to win a game, so if we could have him out every fifth day it would be great.”
There’s a feeling at spring training that if the Jays’ rotation — Sanchez, Marcus Stroman, J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada and perhaps Joe Biagini — can stay healthy, they do have a viable shot of at least earning a wild-card spot.
“Tremendous arms there,” Martin said. “I definitely think that with that type of talent you can beat the best offences. We all know the American League has a ton of hitting, so we’re going to need our pitching.”
GM Ross Atkins has said the club is pursuing another starter via a trade or free agency, which would allow Biagini, who struggled as a starter last year, to go back to the bullpen.
One of the biggest stories at spring training for the Jays this year will be how Josh Donaldson handles all the questions about his future.
The all-star third baseman and 2015 AL MVP becomes a free agent after the 2018 season and there has been already been a ton of debate as to whether he signs an extension with the Blue Jays or gets traded before the season is done.
For his part, the 32-year-old Donaldson has said he would like to stay in Toronto but hasn’t seen an extension offer as of yet.
Still, Jays manager John Gibbons isn’t worried about his star third baseman becoming distracted or letting rumours and speculation throw him off his game.
“He’s probably the most motivated guy I’ve ever been around in his own way,” Gibbons said.
“So I think the fact he’s a free agent at the end of this year is only going to help him. Some guys might run from that, they put the pressure on themselves, that’s not him. I would think it would probably bring out the best in him.”
Gibbons is confident starting middle infielders, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (hamstring injury and sprained right ankle) and second baseman Devon Travis (right knee surgery) will be ready to start the season. Gibbons revealed on Wednesday that Tulowitzki is dealing with something else right now.
“The ankle feels fine,” Gibbons said. “He had a little bone spur in his heel that was aggravating him, but he should be good to go when he gets here.”
As for Travis, Gibbons said the club’s medical team is enthusiastic about his progress.
Travis is considered the best pure hitter on the roster but has been unable to stay off the DL.
“He’s a guy that if you look at his history the last couple of years, we’re going to have to keep an eye on him, how many games he plays,” Gibbons said. “Maybe we have to get on a program where he plays in X number of games a week, just to keep him rested, just so we can get six months out of him. And if we can do that, we’ll feel pretty good.”
Also throwing off the mound during the first day of spring training was Biagini, who is slated right now as the club’s fifth starter if they don’t go out and acquire another rotation piece.
The Redwood City, Calif., native joined the Jays as a Rule 5 free agent for the 2016 season and shined in his role out of the bullpen. Last year, however, the Jays made him an emergency starter and the big right-hander struggled, posting a 3-13 record with a 5.34 ERA. Gibbons said they’re going to try to get Biagini to speed up his rhythm on the mound.
“Speed up his time between pitches,” Gibbons said.
“He’s real deliberate, maybe get him to relax a little more, get a little more rhythm.”