Not Signing Santana Means Toronto Blue Jays Off-Season A Failure

Sep 14, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

If the Toronto Blue Jays do not sign free agent pitcher Ervin Santana would this off-season be considered a failure?

Quite simply, the answer is yes.

The Blue Jays need more quality starters. If that were not the case, then why are Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Reyes trying to convince their fellow countryman Santana to sign with the Jays?

These three key players know that the Jays do not have one key ingredient that a contending team needs… consistent, dependable, decent pitching. These Dominican players know the Jays’ glaring weakness. They are courting Santana because they want to win.

Last year, Alex Anthopolous sold glory. Las Vegas had the Jays at 8-1, to win it all. Almost everyone was swept up by the bandwagon euphoria. The Jays had won the off-season; however, the 2013 season was a disaster.

If the Jays lose the off-season, then what will Alex Anthopolous do? He will do what has been doing for the last month. He will sell hope. Trust in hope, and we might get lucky. That is the message.

In reality, no one really knows what will happen. The most talented team doesn’t always win the most games but it does give that team a better chance.

The worst rated team can come in first, and the top rated can finish last. That is what happened in the AL East with Boston and Toronto last year. The Jays essentially have the same team as 2013. Last year, they were going to win it all. Now they are expected by many to finish last. No one really knows.

Would Ervin Santana help the Jays’ rotation? Yes, even with his weakness in giving up home runs, he probably would eat up 200+ innings. It takes pressure off others on your pitching staff. Its gets you through a marathon.

Did Anthopolous make a mistake not signing a pitcher like Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez? It was no mistake. He tried. Let’s remember that getting a better than average free agent hurler is not like going to a supermarket. The price has to be right and the talent has to want to come to Toronto.

Santana is looking at more than money too. He wants to sign with a contender. We will see if he thinks Toronto is one very soon. He will sign if the money is right and if the team is right. Wherever Santana signs, it will determine whether or not the Toronto Blue Jays’ off-season can be considered a failure.