Stro Show on hold for Jays
SPRING TRAINING: Shoulder inflammation nothing to do with arm slots, starter says
— The Stro Show has been put on temporary hiatus.
The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Tuesday that right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman — the club’s best starter last season — is suffering from inflammation in his right shoulder and is being “backed off ” at spring training.
“I’m just going to deal with it now and hopefully, get back for the beginning of the season,” said Stroman. “We had an MRI, everything is fine, it’s super clean. Just a matter of taking it where I need to go the next few days, getting the inflammation out and going from there. Rather just knock it out now and be good for the year.
“I’m totally all for being back for the beginning of the season,” added Stroman, who went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA last season. “I don’t know if I’ll be back for opening day, but I know I’ll be back, hopefully, at the very beginning of the season.”
If Stroman can’t make his first start in the regular season, RHP Joe Biagini will step in.
Stroman, 26, was quick to pour water on suggestions that his experimenting with different arm slots in his delivery had anything to do with the inflammation.
“Not at all slightly,” said Stroman. “I’ve been playing with arm slots my whole career, since I was a little kid. So that has nothing to do with it.
“I look at this as an opportunity to make my arm stronger, to grow physically, mentally, emotionally,” added Stroman, who recovered from torn ACL in his left knee in 2014, which required surgery, in only five months. “I look at any type adversity as just an opportunity to get better. I’m not slightly worried about it.”
The Final Boss has arrived
The Jays confirmed they signed a one-year, US$1.75 million contract (with a vesting option for 2019) with 35-year-old RHP Seung-hwan Oh, who came to MLB before the 2016 season after 11 years in the Korean Baseball Organization and Nippon Professional League.
During his time in Korea, Oh posted a 1.81 ERA and 357 saves, earning himself the nickname “The Final Boss” as his team’s closer.
In his first MLB season in 2016, he compiled a 1.92 ERA in 76 appearances with the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out 103 batters and saving 19 games. His numbers slipped last year with St. Louis, posting a 4.10 ERA over 59 1/3 innings. Oh said there was no reason for his dip last year other than it was just a one of those seasons.
“No big problem really,” Oh said through his interpreter Eugene Koo. “I’m just going to make it up this year.”
To make room on the 40-man roster, OF Ezequiel Carrera has been designated for assignment. Jays manager John Gibbons said he was sad to see Carrera go.
“Zee’s done of a lot of good things for this team and you hate for it to happen, but the way the team was put together, numbers weren’t in his favour and we’d been looking to beef up our bullpen,” said Gibbons. “You know, Zee will do all right. He’ll do all right somewhere. But yeah, it’s tough. I’ve got a special place for the guy.”
As for what role Oh will play in the pen, Gibbons won’t say at this point, though the Jays’ “Final Boss” — their closer — is still Roberto Osuna.
“You bring in a guy like Oh in for a reason,” said Gibbons. “He’s had some success in certain roles, so it’s just going to add to that. He gives us a little more depth down there where you don’t have to kill somebody. We’ll see how it all shapes up. But he’s going to pitch some important innings, I know that.”
Oh said he’s never been to Canada, but has heard good things about Toronto and is excited that there’s a large Korean population.