The Many Cheap Pitching Options The Jays Missed Out On

Sep 21, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Garza (22) reacts as he walks off the field against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Texas beat Kansas City 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

According to Alex Anthopoulous (ninja GM my rear end!) the Toronto Blue Jays MIGHT not add a starting pitcher this offseason.

So since we don’t have any pitchers to speculate on the Blue Jays acquiring let’s take a look at the many cheap pitching options the Jays missed out on this offseason.

AA has always said he likes to acquire talent through trade and free agent contracts that are 5 years or less. There were many pitchers this offseason that were acquired that way but yet the Blue Jays didn’t get any of them.

Josh Johnson – YEAH I SAID IT! Not a typo. The Blue Jays could have given Johnson a 14 million dollar qualifying offer. Yes that’s a lot of money for a lottery ticket like Johnson. But hey you can never have enough starting pitching depth like we’ve learned the last 2 seasons. And it looks like starting pitching depth is how the Jays plan on winning this season anyways.

Doug Fister – The Nationals acquired Fister for practically nothing (utility man Steve Lombardozzi and left handed pitchers Ian Krol and Robbie Ray), he’s under control through the 2015 season and the Nats are paying him a tiny 7 million in 2014. The argument has been made that the Tigers might not have wanted to trade Fister to an American League team but this is the same team that traded Prince Fielder to an AL team and a World Series threat. You’d like to think the Jays could have gotten Fister if they could have offered the Tigers a little more than the Nationals did.

Matt Garza – When I heard that the Brewers signed Garza to a four-year, $52 million contract I was shocked. Garza’s just 30 years old so you would think he’d command more. Blah blah blah he has experience in the AL East and he’s injury prone. But whenever he’s healthy he would have been a contributor. And his contract is one the Jays could easily afford with so many contracts coming off the books in a couple of years.

AJ Burnett – Again not a typo lol. And 16 million dollars he got for 1 year from the Phillies is scary. And if we knew for sure Burnett could pitch well in the AL East he would have still been playing for the Yankees last year. But hey the Jays are planning on winning in 2014 with pitching depth anyways.

Ubaldo Jimenez – Jiménez signed a 4-year $50 million deal with the Orioles. It’ll be interesting to see how he fairs in the AL East for all those years. At the very least you know he’s a guy who can be counted on to make 30 starts in a season.

And there’s probably even a few more examples that I can’t remember.