Jays officially in rebuild mode
CHICAGO The Toronto Blue Jays felt really good about their rotation coming out of spring training this year. But what a difference four months makes.
The set-up for the starting five was supposed to be among the best in the AL, a lineup that included lefties J.A. Happ and Jaime Garcia along with right-handers Marco Estrada, Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman.
Fast forward to the end of July and, as of Friday, Stroman is the last man standing. Happ has been traded to the Yankees, Sanchez is on the DL with a right index finger contusion, Estrada has been on the DL with blister and glute issues and Garcia is in the bullpen.
This leaves manager John Gibbons in a tough position. It’s his job, of course, to put his team in the best position to win every day, but now he’s scrambling for starting pitchers and is being asked to play younger players to see what they have. One of those youngsters is newly acquired infielder Brandon Drury, who came in the Happ deal. Gibbons is getting a good understanding of managing a rebuilding team.
“When you do pick up new guys, (we) get them for a reason. So when they’re here, we’ve got to make sure they play, to look to the future a little bit,” said Gibbons. “I recognize the situation we’re in right now and there are certain guys you want to find out (what they have). But I’m loyal to this organization that’s been very good to me and I’ve got no complaints about the direction it’s heading. I’ll make sure if we pick up somebody, he plays.”
Gibbons said with the addition of Drury, there’s going to be a logjam in the infield, especially when Josh Donaldson (left calf tightness) returns. There’s also shortstop/second baseman Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Devon Travis at second, Aledmys Diaz at short and Yangervis Solarte at third. “It’s not an easy thing,” said Gibbons, who must find a way to keep all his infielders happy. And that won’t be easy, especially on a team that’s not expected to win a lot of games.
As for the rotation, Gibbons said the Jays will go with another bullpen day for Saturday ’s game at Guaranteed Rate Field, indicating that Luis Santos or John Axford (both right-handers) could start. Lefty Ryan Borucki gets the ball on Sunday, Estrada on Monday in Oakland and Sam Gaviglio on Tuesday against the A’s.
PRAISE FOR HAPP
With Happ gone, Estrada is now the doyen of the Jays’ rotation. He said he’ll miss his former teammate.
“It’s sad, you know. He was one of my favourite teammates. He was also a friend,’’ said Estrada. “So when you lose a guy like that, you feel it not only on the field but off the field because he was a guy I liked to go to dinners with and do all that fun stuff. But also I’m happy for him. I know the Yankees are playing well and have a chance to go to the playoffs. You wish him the best of luck, until he pitches against us.
“I’m going to miss him,” added Gibbons. “He’s the old pro you know. I think it’s a great pickup for the Yanks, I think he can help put them over the top. I really do. It will be weird facing him, I know that.”
The Jays next play the Yankees on Aug. 17 in New York.
Estrada said both his middle finger blister issue and glute are feeling better and he’ll be ready to pitch on Monday. He will throw a side session on Saturday. “I might not (go) 100 pitches my first time out there, but I’m going to try,” said Estrada. “But I’m going to be smart about it.”
MEDICAL UPDATES
RHP Danny Barnes (left knee tendinitis) pitched for Triple A Buffalo on Friday, his second rehab game. He is feeling better.
OF Kevin Pillar (right sternoclavicular injury) continues to progress with throwing and running without issue and began hitting progression on Friday.
Sanchez continues throwing progression and is feeling better and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday.
OF Anthony Alford, one of the top prospects in the organization, was hit in the head by a pitch on Friday in Buffalo. He got up quickly after, but was removed from the game.