Blue Jays: Beyond Bauer- Top five rotation options remaining

A better option than you may think

One name we’ve heard linked to the Blue Jays for a couple of years now is Jake Odorizzi. The Blue Jays expressed interest in the veteran last winter, but he ultimately accepted the qualifying offer from the Twins. Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, he battled injury and it didn’t go so well.

That said, he’s now healthy and there’s no reason to think that he can’t return to the form that made him an All-Star in 2019. He posted a 3.51 ERA and a 1.208 WHIP over 159 innings, which aren’t that far off from his career marks of a 3.92 ERA and a 1.240 WHIP. 2019 was arguably his best MLB season, but he also had plenty of success pitching for the Rays from 2013-2017, so he has the bonus of knowing the demands of the division.

Oddly enough, the reaction to rumours about in Odorizzi have been met with a mixed reaction from Blue Jays fans on social media. I think that’s because he’s viewed as a “fall-back” option of sorts, if Atkins can’t get a true ace like Bauer or Castillo. However, it’s all about perspective and what he’s being asked to do. If Odorizzi is slotted in as a #3 guy, or even #2 with another solid veteran behind him, that’s now a bad place for the Blue Jays to be.

MLBtraderumors.com likes the right-hander for three years and 39 million this winter. If he signs for that (or less), the Blue Jays could afford to sign him and Walker. Then the rotation looks like this:

1- Hyun Jin Ryu
2- Odorizzi
3- Walker
4- Nate Pearson
5- Robbie Ray

I mean, that’s not bad, right? I realize that the group would look better with Bauer and/or Castillo in there, but with a talented lineup ready to put up a ton of runs, this rotation could pick up a lot of wins. Odorizzi isn’t the sexiest name on the market, but he might be one of the more logical targets.