Toronto Blue Jays: Looking at Rotation Trade Value

No Chance Club

Ryan Borucki (24) LHP

Trent Thornton (25) RHP

Sean Reid-Foley (23) RHP

Sam Gaviglio (28) RHP

These young arms are the future of the Blue Jays rotation, and I cannot see any of them being moved for any reason this season, although as we saw last season with Roberto Osuna anything can happen.

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However, with no Blue Jays starters being under contract after the 2020 season, the front office will need to find a few starters among their prospects over the next two seasons if they are going to be successful.

Borucki is all but a lock for the rotation after posting a 3.87 ERA in 17 starts last year, and ending up as arguably the rotation’s best option after Happ was traded to New York. Chances are he’ll pitch somewhere in the middle of the rotation and the Blue Jays will hope he can build on a successful start to his MLB career.

Thornton and Reid-Foley will both be given a chance to compete for a spot this spring, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see both start the year fine-tuning their skills in Buffalo. Gaviglio is a serviceable back-of-the-rotation option, but is likely headed for a long relief role, and could be counted on as an injury replacement as he was last year.

They will likely start the season with a few veterans in the rotation who ultimately might get dealt if they perform, opening up spots for these rookie pitchers to be called up and audition for 2020 rotation jobs. So while the roster has undergone a lot of change in the last calendar year, there could be more on the way in 2019, including in the rotation.