In Osuna we trust — for now
IN THE BULLPEN: Sophomore starts season as closer, but Storen will be ‘very valuable’
The Blue Jays finalized their 25-man opening day roster Thursday morning and, in the process, anointed Roberto Osuna as the team’s bullpen closer.
Osuna and newcomer Drew Storen had been vying for the ninth-inning role this spring.
“We like both of them but I have a familiarity and comfort level with Osuna — we all do,” said manager John Gibbons. “But we have some flexibility if we decide to change things up. As time goes on, we could do that, too.”
As a rookie last year, Osuna took over the closer’s role after Miguel Castro, then Brett Cecil, faltered in the role. He got his first save on June 21 and by season’s end, he had saved 20 games in 23 opportunities.
Ezequiel Carrera has won the job as the reserve outfielder over Darrell Ceciliani, Junior Lake and Domonic Brown. In a perfect world, the job would likely have gone to Ceciliani, who had perhaps the best spring of any player in camp. But he still has options and will be sent to Buffalo to play every day. Lake and Brown must clear waivers and could be claimed by another team before they can be assigned to Buffalo.
Osuna and Storen are joined in the bullpen by Brett Cecil, Jesse Chavez, Gavin Floyd, Ryan Tepera, Arnold Leon and Joe Biagini. An adjustment will have to be made at the end of the first week of the season when Marco Estrada comes off the disabled list to make his first start against Boston.
“We had so many guys who had good springs,” said Gibbons. “There were really a lot of tough decisions. But, we’re in a position where we want to win something this year so, if we need to make changes as we go along, we’ll make sure we have the best guys available on the team.
“I have to tip my hat to everybody. They all performed well.”
Storen wasn’t immediately available for comment but Gibbons said he reacted like a pro when told the news. Storen has 95 career saves, 29 of them coming last year with the Washington Nationals.
“He was fine,” said Gibbons “He has said it right from the start that he would take whatever role was given him. He is going to be very, very valuable to us.”
His experience as a closer gives the Jays a solid one-two punch in the high leverage situations at the end of games.
Gibbons said the club waited this long into camp to make its decision simply because they wanted to make sure they were getting it right.
“When we started, I said we weren’t going to make a snap decision or judge them on performance,” said Gibbons. “We wanted to see how things developed as we went along.”
Though he’s a right-handed pitcher, it’s Tepera’s ability to handle lefthanded hitters that tipped the scale in his favour ahead of Pat Venditte. In 32 games last season, Tepera allowed just seven hits in 51 at-bats (.137 batting average) versus lefthanded hitters.
“His strength last year was facing left-handed hitters and I see a more consistent guy down here (this spring),” said Gibbons. “He’s got too good an arm, he’s pitching too well and he was part of our team last year. It would have been unjust if he wasn’t on the team.”
Leon was purchased from Oakland for cash considerations during the off-season and he impressed right from the start. He made six appearances, allowing two hits, two walks and zero runs in seven innings of work.
Osuna and Storen have become good friends this spring and Osuna said the most important thing for each of them was not about who gets the bulk of the save opportunities but how each can help the team.
“Whatever was going to happen was (management’s) choice,” said Osuna. “I’m happy they gave me their confidence but it doesn’t really change anything.
“We talk a lot. We’re teammates. And we don’t really care about roles. It’s however we can help the team.”
As a youngster in the Blue Jay farm system, Osuna projected as a starting pitcher, but he’s embraced his role as a short reliever. He hasn’t abandoned the notion of starting but isn’t going to dwell on it.
“Maybe,” he said when asked if he might return to starting. “But I’m just thinking about this year. That’s all I care about.”