Blue Jays: Updated look at the pitching depth chart after the deadline

After the Blue Jays made a pair of trades ahead of the trade deadline on Friday, how has their pitching depth chart changed?

Thankfully it’s transformed an awful lot, which is a good thing with how clear the need for pitching upgrades was before the latest flurry of moves. The rotation has been a surprising strength for the Blue Jays this season, but there was a need for a true impact arm near the top of the rotation, and some reinforcements for the bullpen as well.

Over the last month the Blue Jays acquired five different pitchers to help them upgrade the pitching staff. Friday brought the blockbuster that sent Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson to Minnesota in exchange for Jose Berrios, and the Blue Jays got the coveted starter they’ve been looking for to join Hyun Jin Ryu and Robbie Ray at the top of the rotation. Right before the deadline they also acquired Joakim Soria from the Diamondbacks in exchange for two players to be named later.

On Thursday the Jays acquired Brad Hand to help bolster the back end of their bullpen, and the southpaw has plenty of experience in the closer’s role and is certainly capable of supporting Jordan Romano in the late innings. Earlier in the month the Jays also traded for Adam Cimber of the Marlins (along with outfielder Corey Dickerson), as well as Trevor Richards from the Brewers. As a result we’ve already seen a few arms designated for assignment such as Jacob Barnes and Tyler Chatwood, and it’s possible that more are on the way.

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Things have changed so much that I thought it would be worth having a visual look at the new depth chart. Let’s begin with the starters:

1- Hyun Jin Ryu
2- Jose Berrios
3- Robbie Ray
4- Alek Manoah
5- Ross Stripling

Extra: Steven Matz, Thomas Hatch

You could argue that Matz should stay in the rotation and that Stripling could be bumped down to the bullpen, but I’d bet on how I have things lined up here. Other than Stripling’s complete goose egg against the Red Sox earlier in July, the veteran right-hander has been a steady presence on the mound over the last two months. Both Matz and Stripling have pitched out of the bullpen before as well, so it wouldn’t be a brand new role for them.

It’s also possible that the Blue Jays will use all six arms as starters over the last two months of the season. That would allow them to give Hyun Jin Ryu some occasional rest to keep him fresh for the stretch run, and maybe even to manage Alek Manoah’s workload a bit by skipping a start here or there. Either way, expect Matz or Stripling to stay relatively stretched out in the bullpen, and for Hatch to stay at the ready.

Now for the revamped bullpen:

1- Jordan Romano
2- Brad Hand
3- Adam Cimber
4- Tim Mayza
5- Trevor Richards
6- Ryan Borucki
7- Joakim Soria
8- Matz/Stripling

The Blue Jays have other options they could turn to such as Rafael Dolis, Taylor Saucedo, Trent Thornton, and more. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Dolis ends up being DFA’d as well, as it’s hard to see a role for him with all of the new additions and with the way he’s struggled this season, the other depth options can return to Triple-A for now.

What’s even more exciting is that the Blue Jays could eventually add Nate Pearson to the bullpen picture as well, and could choose to do the same with Thomas Hatch. If they’re very fortunate it’s also possible that Julian Merryweather could get healthy enough to contribute before the end of the regular season, and he showed us what kind of weapon he can be back in April, even if he’s really struggled to stay healthy throughout his pro career.

It’s not a perfect group in the bullpen or in the rotation, but after the front office made some upgrades ahead of the trade deadline it now feels like the Blue Jays’ pitching staff can compete. When you combine that with one of the deepest and most talented lineups in baseball, this is a different team than it was a week ago. Don’t be surprised if the Blue Jays go on a heck of a run to close out the regular season, especially now that they’re back in Toronto.