Jays buying in on bullpen
High-end shopping might make sense at this stage of the game.
Finishing touches are starting to matter as the Blue Jays work on making the jump from a team with potential to a sustainable winner.
Going from 67 victories in their last 162-game season to 85 or 90, joining the ranks of true contenders in the American League, is one of the biggest hurdles in the game. But a few strategic moves could make all the difference.
That’s why after a few seasons of prioritizing starting pitching and getting creative with bullpen construction, the Jays are starting to talk about spending more on relievers as well. Contenders need to be in on every market, general manager Ross Atkins said this past week.
“We feel as though we’ve been able to successfully build bullpens in creative ways and in different ways. At the same time you have to factor in where else you could be spending resources and what the opportunity costs were,” he said. “But by no means does that mean that we are not interested in very successful, available relievers that could cost more than two and three million dollars a year.”
The Jays have relied heavily on their relievers under Atkins. In three of the last four years, the bullpen has ranked in the top four in innings pitched. In terms of ERA, the relief corps finished seventh in the majors this past season (4.71), 16th in 2019 (4.35), 10th in 2018 (4.45) and 16th in 2017 (4.21).
Depending on roster limits, the GM expects the Jays to carry five or six starters and seven or eight relievers in 2021. Thomas Hatch, Anthony Kay and T.J. Zeuch largely pitched in relief this year but also offer starting depth, at the big-league level or in triple-A. If they’re called upon to start, the need for relief reinforcements would be greater.
“The ability to execute fastball strikes, having secondary weapons, two pitches that are on the plate consistently with swing and miss-ability,” Atkins said about the profile he’s looking for on the reliever market, via trade or free agency. “Guys that are pitching the 55 to 70 innings year in and year out, and consistently are able to get very good hitters out in relatively leveraged situations are the things that we’re looking for.”
Eight Jays relievers threw 55 or more innings in a single season between 2017 and 2019: Ryan Tepera (twice), Dominic Leone, Danny Barnes, Roberto
Osuna, Aaron Loup, Tyler Clippard, Sam Gaviglio and Derek Law.
Tepera, Loup and Barnes were drafted by the organization, Osuna was signed out of Mexico at age 16, Gaviglio came from the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations, Leone was claimed off waivers, and Clippard signed a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. None of them remain with the Jays.
With the exception of Osuna — an elite closer traded to Houston while suspended under MLB’s domestic violence policy — they were serviceable arms that made sense at the time. Aiming a little higher this off-season could help them gain ground on their rivals.
How much they’re willing to spend, however, remains to be seen.
Liam Hendriks, Brad Hand, Trevor May and Blake Treinen are among the leading free agents available, with MLB Trade Rumours predicting multi-year deals worth $30 million (U.S.) for Hendriks and $14 million for the others.
The second tier — Alex Colome, Kirby Yates, Greg Holland, Mark Melancon — are looking at one-year offers worth $4 million to $6 million. That might be more in line with what the Jays can absorb while addressing other needs at the same time.
“It’s a matter of building the most efficient roster possible so that you can compliment in several ways,” Atkins said.
As for the closer role — with Ken Giles unsigned and recovering from Tommy John surgery — Atkins talked about the importance of mindset at the end of a close game, including the ability to shake off a defeat and start fresh the next day. Jordan Romano remains an inhouse option, but the Jays are on the lookout for more.
“The ability to turn the page is a significant one,” Atkins said.