The Province

Gotta stay healthy

Projected rotation looks more vulnerable to injury than most, and it could be big trouble

- STEVE BUFFERY sbuffery@postmedia.com @Beezersun

Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins was at downtown Toronto’s Kensington Market on Monday, no doubt shopping for something other than a recently banged-up starting pitcher.

When you break down the Jays’ rotation as it stands now, one troubling fact hits you right between the eyes: Almost every one of their projected top five starters is coming off an injury. And while there are no guarantees that any pitcher will stay healthy going forward, the Jays’ rotation looks much more vulnerable than most, and that could make for a very long 2019 season.

While he was leaving a restaurant in the market, Atkins took part in a conference call to discus the acquisitio­n on Sunday of left-handed starter Clayton Richard from the San Diego Padres for outfielder Connor Panas. Richard started 27 games for the Padres in 2018 but missed all of September after undergoing surgery on his left knee to deal with inflammati­on issues.

Earlier this month, the Jays signed right-handed starter Matt Shoemaker to a oneyear deal. Shoemaker missed the majority of the past two seasons because of a right forearm extensor strain. He returned in September.

Now consider the club’s other veteran starters, right-handers Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez. Stroman struggled with shoulder and blister issues last season while Sanchez has been hampered with injury issues the last two years. His big set-back last season was a right middle finger contusion.

And don’t forget, righthande­r Julian Merryweath­er, whom the Jays acquired for Josh Donaldson, underwent Tommy John surgery in March and was on the DL all season. The Blue Jays’ rotation might be kept together with tape and wire.

But Atkins sounds as calm and relaxed as can be, perhaps because he knows nobody expects his club to do anything the next couple of years and that the additions of Richard and Shoemaker are just stop-gaps to have the Jays look somewhat respectabl­e in 2019.

“Obviously the knee was a concern, but the work that we’ve done, we’re optimistic that Clayton will be over the hump by the time we’re starting spring training,” said Atkins. “And Shoe has been backed up with forearm tightness and soreness, (but) if he gets over that he can be one of the more solid and effective starting pitchers.

Richard, 35, went 7-11 with a 5.33 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP across 27 starts with the Padres during the 2018 season. The Lafayette, Indiana, native has a record of 68-79 with a 4.46 ERA over his 10-year Major League career. The 6-5, 240 lb. lefty also posted a National League best 60.3 ground ball percentage over the last four seasons.

“Clayton is a guy who has a track record of hauling innings and also has a very clear track record of keeping the ball on the ground and in the ballpark,” said Atkins. “Very, very well respected, a very solid human being. And the work that we’ve done over the years has always pointed positively towards him.

“And Shoe, his ability to get swing and misses, one of the better split finger fastballs probably in the game was (attractive) to us,” the Jays GM added. “One of our better scouts, Jim Skaalen, had seen both guys last year and had very good scouting reports on them. Both guys have the potential to start. We know both guys can get outs and so having them on as additions to the Blue Jays is something we’re excited about.”

Atkins said adding pitching depth, starting and/or relief, continues to be the club’s priority, adding that he’s never been busier fielding calls from teams interested in Toronto players. It’s no secret the Jays would love to get rid of veteran catcher Russell Martin, who has one year left on his deal which will pay him $20 million. The Jays plan to play Danny Jansen and Reese McGuire in most games behind the plate in 2019. Martin turns 36 in February and had a disappoint­ing year offensivel­y in 2018, posting a batting average of .194 and an OPS of .663. But apparently there’s a market for his services.

“He’s a leader who loves to catch and who loves to make pitching staffs better, controls the strike zone better as a defender and as an offensive player, so he’s interestin­g to a number of teams,” said Atkins.

 ?? — AP ?? New Jays pitcher Clayton Richard started 27 games for the Padres in 2018 but missed all of September after undergoing surgery on his left knee to deal with inflammati­on issues.
— AP New Jays pitcher Clayton Richard started 27 games for the Padres in 2018 but missed all of September after undergoing surgery on his left knee to deal with inflammati­on issues.
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