Blue Jays: A closer look at Stroman, the ace

So why doesn’t he get the proper credit?

To me, it’s a two-part answer as to why Stroman doesn’t get the credit he deserves in the Blue Jays’ rotation.

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First, we have very short memories as baseball fans and Stroman’s rough performance in the first half of 2016 knocked him down a few rungs in the minds of many Jays’ fans. That’s silly of course, but there was no denying that there were at least 3 starters who were performing better than him in last year’s first half. Combine that with a lost 2015 season, and it’s somewhat understandable why the excitement was dampened around the former first round pick.

Secondly, the presence of those other All-Stars has made it harder for Stroman to earn the limelight in his own rotation, let alone in the American League. Happ won 20 games last year, Sanchez lead the American League in ERA and Estrada might have contended for both had he not dealt with back issues throughout much of the second half. Each of them deserve the credit they’ve earned as well, it just makes it more difficult for Stroman to stand out.

When you really examine the situation, the Blue Jays have been blessed with a dynamic talent, who is a bargain at 3.4 million this season, and still under club control for 3 more seasons, becoming a free agent in 2021.

For now, the Blue Jays have as many as 4 potential aces in my mind (when Happ gets healthy of course), and with Stroman and Sanchez in their mid-twenties, they’ve got a fantastic foundation to build on for several years to come.

Next: Blue Jays: Don't look now, but Jose's heatin' up