Blue Jays 2019 rotation starting to take shape

With young guys continuing to pitch well at the major league level, more youngsters still in the minor leagues, as well as some veteran pitchers that will be leaving Toronto this offseason, although still uncertain, the Blue Jays 2019 rotation is starting to take shape.

With JA Happ eyeing a postseason run with the Yankees, Marco Estrada most likely signing elsewhere this offseason, and Sam Gaviglio probably being sent down to pitch at AAA next season, the Blue Jays have a lot of questions surrounding their rotation next season.

Ryan Borucki, Sean Reid-Foley, and Thomas Pannone are all possibilities to join next years rotation. All three of which have pitched very well since being called up to the major leagues, and all three have earned the right to be in the conversation.

With his 3^rd consecutive quality start Saturday against the Rays, Pannone has dropped his ERA to 3.77. Borucki, who has really impressed since his arrival in Toronto, has an equally impressive3.86 ERA. Sean Reid-Foley, who is still a work in progress, has a 5.40 ERA over 30 innings pitched, but also is averaging 6 walks per game.

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When thinking of in-house guys that could join next years rotation, T.J. Zeuch and Jordan Romano are guys that come to mind. After starting the season in A+ Dunedin, Zeuch made his way up to AA New Hampshire and pitched to a 3.08 ERA and 9-5 record with the Fisher Cats. Romano, who pitched in AAA and AA, also had a nice season with the league winning Fisher Cats, as the righty pitched to a 4.13 ERA with New Hampshire.

Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez will likely be the leaders of this young rotation in 2019 – both of whom have had an injury history. Sanchez has dealt with blister issues, and even missed time this year after getting his finger caught in a suitcase. And Stroman, who has also missed time due to blister issues and shoulder fatigue, is also likely to get injured at this point in his career.

With so many questions in the rotation, the Blue Jays front office is likely going to add a veteran this offseason. Lance Lynn, J.A. Happ, and Patrick Corbin are all free agents after this season and all make sense. You could sign one of them to a relatively cheap, short-term deal to give your rotation some certainty. JA Happ, who has pitched in Toronto and has publicly said he likes it here, is definitely a real possibility.

2019 should be a year of growing pains for these young Blue Jays, but with how well these rookies have been pitching, I think next years rotation is going to be just fine.