Toronto Blue Jays: Players who will be on a short leash in 2021

The Toronto Blue Jays have a surplus of players vying for playing time this season which means some players will be on short leashes in 2021. Last season was an anomaly so it unknown how much stock is being vested in the respective stat lines from 2020.

However, there are a handful of players who not only struggled last season but also have players pressuring for their jobs. The Blue Jays have a plethora of depth which is going to foster a ton of internal competition this season.

There are currently 13 pitchers who would have a preference to start ball games so skipper Charlie Montoyo will have the option to manipulate and interchange his rotation depending on match-ups and performance.

The positional roster is constructed to afford flexibility as a number of players can play a multitude of positions which spawns creativity in the day-to-day roster alignment.

There is depth at the catching position with a trio of backstops who all could see MLB time this season including a rookie chomping at the bit for his opportunity.

Here is a look at five players who may be on a short leash if they stumble out of the gate in 2021.

Tanner Roark

The two-year/ $24 million dollar signing of Tanner Roark has the potential to be a regrettable expenditure that surely the brain trust would like a mulligan on. Hopefully, last season was a one off due to the pandemic but Roark was downright terrible.

The 34-year old got torched for 36 earned runs and 14 home runs in just 47.2 innings of work in his first season with the Blue Jays. Roark sported a career-high 6.80 earned run average with a -0.4 WAR in 11 starts.

The veteran hurler then felt the need to gripe publicly about not being afforded the opportunity to pitch late into games. There were recent reports that the team is shopping Roark to non-contenders who are looking for an innings eater but surely Toronto will have to pay a portion of his salary or include prospects in the deal.

If Roark is still with the team at the conclusion of spring training, his leash will be short especially with the likes of Ross Stripling, Ryan Borucki, Trent Thornton, Julian Merryweather, TJ Zeuch, Anthony Kay and Thomas Hatch all laying in the weeds for an opportunity to join the rotation.

In 2019, Roark posted a respectable 4.35 earned run average in 31 starts with the A’s and Reds so hopefully he can get back to his career norms in 2021, if not he won’t be around for long.

Steven Matz

The Blue Jays acquired Steven Matz last week for a trio of prospects, however, much like Roark the southpaw is coming off a disastrous 2020 campaign. The brain trust hasn’t specified what his role will be moving forward but it is probably safe to assume they envision him as a starter.

The lefty must have had a sore neck in 2020 after watching 14 balls fly out of the yard in just 30.2 innings of work. That won’t bode well for the Blue Jays if they ever make it back to the friendly confines of the Rogers Centre.

Matz posted a 9.68 earned run average after allowing 33 runs in his nine appearances including six starts for the Mets last season. The 29-year old has enjoyed success at the MLB level in both 2016 and 2018 so hopefully Pete Walker and company can channel his former self.

The lefty does possess a mid-nineties fastball so he may also be an option out of the bullpen if the team ends up signing or acquiring additional pitchers before the start of the season. If he does end up in the rotation, the opportunity will be short lived if he replicates last season.

Matz owns a career 31-41 record with a 4.35 earned run average and a 6.4 WAR in 112 games spanning over six seasons with the Mets.

Robbie Ray

Robbie Ray falls into the same category as a few of the above starters although he has the potential and past track record to be a mid-rotation starter. The Blue Jays liked what they saw in his five games following the August trade from Arizona.

Ray inked a one-year/ $8 million dollar pact for the 2021 season after earning $9.43 million in 2020. In 12 games last season, Ray surrendered 38 earned runs including 13 homers, however, he produced a much improved 4.79 earned run average following the trade.

In the past, Ray had anchored the Diamondbacks pitching staff and was an All-Star in 2017 after going 15-5 with a 2.89 earned run average for Arizona. The hard-throwing southpaw also finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting that season.

Ray should have a longer leash than that of Roark or Matz, however, he did sport an awful 7.84 earned run average in seven starts for Arizona last season.

The Blue Jays are banking on his slow start being a one-off as they made it a priority to resign Ray early into free agency. Hopefully, the 29-year old can find his 2017 elixir and anchor the middle of the Blue Jays rotation in 2021.

Rowdy Tellez

Rowdy Tellez is an intriguing player but it is difficult to project or pin point what his exact ceiling will be. The first baseman was finally poised for a breakout campaign in 2020 but an injury cut his season short.

Tellez hit .283/.346/.540 with 13 extra base hits including eight home runs in 35 games. The 25-year old had also cut down on his swing and misses fanning 20 times in 127 plate appearances.  As it stands right now, Tellez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will share playing time at first base and the designated hitter spot.

The first baseman swatted 21 homers in 2019 but struggled to make consistent contact which affected his playing time. There is no questioning the power but Tellez fanned 116 times in 409 plate appearances.

The Blue Jays have bolstered their offensive attack and Tellez could be the odd man out should he revert back to his all or northing approach. The DH spot could be utilized to keep all four outfielders in the lineup as George Springer, Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Randal Grichuk will all be everyday players.

Rowdy will have put up 2020 numbers in order to stay in the lineup otherwise he could become expendable or a bench player.

What players do you think are on the bubble for 2021, voice your opinion in the comments below?