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Blue Jays: If MLB had expansion draft, who would the Jays protect?

By Chris Henderson

Jun 4, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 4, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 4, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 4, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports /

The Obvious Choices

Marcus Stroman

Stroman is just 26 years old, and is having another solid season as his stock continues to rise. He’s 7-3 with a 3.15 ERA thus far, and is putting the struggles of last season’s first half far in the rearview mirror. He is under club control through the 2020 season, and is making just 3.4 million this year. He’s about to get more expensive, but at this point he’s definitely worth a lot more than the Jays have to pay him in 2017.

Aaron Sanchez

While this season hasn’t been anything to write home about for Sanchez, there’s no denying his talent and potential. It appears likely that we’ll see him back on the mound in the near future as well, so hopefully he can put together a healthy second half and remind Jays fans how good he really is. He won’t be a free agent until 2021 either, and is making just $535,000 this season.

Josh Donaldson

The Blue Jays have had one of the better bargains in baseball with Josh Donaldson since he’s arrived, and he really just got “expensive” this season, making 17 million in 2017. While that is a lot of money, the “Bringer of Rain” is well worth the dough when he’s healthy, which he has been since returning from the DL.

He’s eligible for arbitration one more time in 2018 before becoming a free agent in 2019. The Blue Jays will likely try to extend him before he hits that point, but his health and performance will go a long way to determining what kind of contract he lands. If he performs as the MVP contender that he can be, 17 million will look like chump change.

Roberto Osuna

Osuna has been one of the best closers in the American League since making the team in 2015, and there’s no reason to think the 22 year old is going to slow down now. He has a 2.64 career ERA and has saved 74 games, including his latest on Monday night.

I’m not a big believer in the value of closers per say, but I do think Osuna is a tremendous asset, and for the sake of this exercise there’s no way I’d let him go unprotected.

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