Toronto Blue Jays’ Steamer vs. Reality: Pitchers

Sep 20, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (54) pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Stroman

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The Rookie Stroman may have been the most pleasant surprise of 2014 for the Toronto Blue Jays.  Stroman does not have a 2014 Steamer listed on Razzball, and although several sites made conservative projections for him and I’ve left his Steamer blank here, you can safely assume that nobody projected such a dominant season from the Duke product.  Steamer has some exciting projections for Stroman in this coming season, and if he can continue to grow in the coming years, Toronto may finally have a candidate for the “Ace” they have lacked since Doc left town.

J.A. Happ

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It’s interesting to note that Steamer projected Happ to appear in 28 games, but start just 11 of them.  Instead, Happ started 26 games and appeared in relief just 4 times.  He has since been traded for LF Michael Saunders, but Happ had a strong 2014, and the boost in his value may have allowed this deal to go through smoothly.

Aaron Loup

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Loup played slightly better than his projections, which were fairly accurate in 2013.  Picking up four saves along the way, Loup was an incredibly valuable and reliable left-handed arm for the Blue Jays.  His role should only increase in 2015 with the full trust of John Gibbons and few in-house options to use in high leverage situations.

Brett Cecil

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I’d like to see Cecil drop his WHIP just a bit before taking the reigns as Closer, if that situation is to play out, but in terms of raw “stuff”, Cecil really stepped up in 2014.  His curveball is an absolute force, and a 2.70 ERA is very encouraging.  Cecil is someone that the Blue Jays trusted to make the big pitch when it counted, and he often did.

Dustin McGowan 

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Steamer had originally projected Dustin McGowan to only make relief appearances in 2014, but as we know, he began the season as the 5th man in the rotation.  His spot was soon lost to Marcus Stroman, but McGowan fared much better in a bullpen role.  He is one name that makes sense to bring back for 2015 on a cheaper deal, if there’s anything left in the change jar at Rogers.

Casey Janssen

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Some very accurate projections for Janssen here, as well, but the long-time Blue Jay could have outperformed these easily if a mid-season illness had not derailed his performance.  Now a Free Agent, there still exists a remote chance that Janssen returns to the Toronto Blue Jays, but the likelier scenario would see him signing on a West Coast team as a set-up man.

Next: Sanchez, Estrada and remaining bullpen