The biggest risk the Blue Jays took during the off-season was at the back end of their bullpen. Through the first three-plus weeks of the regular season, that gamble appears to be paying off.
The Jays knew last fall that they needed to plug holes in the starting rotation, middle relief and at designated hitter. One could have argued third base and left field required upgrades too. Then the front office decided to add one more item to its to-do list by non-tendering Jordan Romano.
The decision came as a shock. The 31-year-old missed most of 2024 because of injury but had been given a clean bill of health. And he was one of the more effective closers in baseball before last year with a 2.37 ERA and 95 saves from 2021-23.
The Jays declining to pay the approximate $8 million to $9 million (U.S.) that Romano would have earned through arbitration came off as cold-hearted treatment of a local fan favourite. It also seemed short-sighted. The Jays had the second-highest bullpen ERA of any team last year. They needed to add quality depth, not subtract one of the only high-ceiling relievers on the roster.
After years of quietly signing the cheques, ownership was front and centre to discuss Vladimir
The Jays assumed even more risk later in the off-season by signing Jeff Hoffman, who was only available because he didn’t pass the physicals after reaching agreements with Atlanta and Baltimore. Romano only required a one-year deal, Hoffman was guaranteed three despite the possibility of a wonky shoulder.
This wasn’t Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, but it was controversial enough in this city. And while Jays general manager Ross Atkins took a lot of heat, he has to be feeling pretty good about it now because Hoffman has been everything the Jays could have hoped for. He’s missing bats, closing games with ease and bringing an attitude that fits his lockdown role.
As Hoffman thrives, Romano is still trying to figure things out in Philadelphia, where he signed a one-year deal. He struggled and lost the closer’s job two weeks into the year, though he has since made an adjustment to his leg kick and pitched three consecutive scoreless innings.
There will be lots of Jays fans rooting for that turnaround to continue. Romano is a Markham product, he grew up here, and he made his big-league debut here. He was named to a pair of all-star teams and is third on the all-time saves list for the team he rooted for as a kid. He’s the kind of good-natured player you should cheer for.
Yet even Romano’s biggest supporters have to admit Hoffman has higher upside. It’s fair to question his long-term health after previous red flags with physicals, but there’s no critiquing the stuff. Hoffman has been untouchable with his mix of high velocity and devastating movement. He has 14 strikeouts in just 10 1/3 innings to prove it.
There are two sides to Garcia: the gentle giant and the intimidating reliever.
The season is still just getting started and the final verdict on Hoffman vs. Romano won’t be known for quite some time. But it’s Hoffman who has opened with a much better case. If he keeps this up, the Jays decision-makers will soon be able to say, “We told you so.”
Aging like fine wine
The quality pitching hasn’t been limited to the bullpen. The Jays’ starting rotation has a 3.29 ERA that, entering Thursday, was fifth in the majors. This veteran group is getting older but getting better, too.
Keeping José BerrÃos, Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman on turn every five or six days will be crucial. Max Scherzer remains out with a thumb injury and there’s no immediate timetable for his return. The longer Yariel Rodriguez is removed from starting, the less likely it is he’ll be able to transition back to the rotation. Prospect Jake Bloss is struggling mightily with a 10.32 ERA at Buffalo.
Easton Lucas is the only backup starter the Jays have and he is already in the majors, filling in for Scherzer. This group is in great shape right now, but one injury is all it would take to turn a strength into a weakness.
Tony Taters
There seemed to be a lot of panic among Jays supporters when Anthony Santander got off to a slow start, but most people should have seen it coming. Santander begins almost every year struggling to make hard contact.
He was batting .185 on April 10 with one double and a .494 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. It was ugly but it wasn’t unusual for a guy who has hit just .213 with a .663 OPS in March and April in nine seasons as a pro.
With 14-year contract sealed, the Jays clearly intend to build a winner around Guerrero and it’s
Some hitters are just like that. Edwin Encarnacion got off to a slow start every year while he searched for his timing and just about every season he found a way to get going. I’d expect the same from Santander, who is already showing signs of heating up with at least one extra-base hit in his last five games.
Schneider demoted
The rise of Myles Straw has led to the demotion of Davis Schneider. The Jays decided to option Schneider to Buffalo on Thursday after the former rookie standout registered one hit in 15 at-bats. A return to the minors will allow him to get regular reps again.
Straw is one reason that Schneider struggled to secure a defined role. Straw is hitting .355 average with three extra-base hits in 31 at-bats. He figures to stick around as the primary backup outfielder when Daulton Varsho returns from injury, likely at some point next week. That will leave Nathan Lukes or Addison Barger as the odd man out.
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