Blue Jays: Three risky pitchers to consider signing this offseason

As of right now, the Blue Jays enter next season with three starters in the rotation and two spots that will need to be filled. Hyun Jin Ryu, Jose Berrios, and Alek Manoah will be in the starting five and with there being no guarantee Robbie Ray or Steven Matz return next season, the Jays will need to figure out who will take the last two spots.

They have a few internal options to consider if they are looking to save some money but if they want to try and improve upon this past season and make the playoffs, they made need to pony up some capital and look outside the organization for veteran talent.

That being said, there are a few pitchers hitting the open market who could draw the interest of the Blue Jays front office, some more established than others. There are also a few names on the free-agent board who come with some considerable risk, whether it be injury or inconsistency, that could be worth the potential gamble if the club feels like that player could be a fit with the club but also overcome whatever held them back and produce within the rotation. Some risks don’t pan out like the Kirby Yates deal while others can generate some serious rewards, like the one-year deal for Ray where he turned himself from a back-end rotation piece to a Cy-Young candidate in one season.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect any free agent to come in and produce like Ray did this past season, but after the numerous bullpen games and the rotation of fringe starters the club through in for a start or two when the injury bug came crawling, having a veteran starter in the role could have been a difference-maker.

That being said, here are three pitchers the Blue Jays should consider looking into this offseason but come with some considerable risk.

Noah Syndergaard

Originally drafted in the first round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Blue Jays, Noah Syndergaard was one of the top prospects in the organization before he was traded to the New York Mets as part of the package deal for R.A. Dickey during the 2012/2013 offseason.

Making his Major League debut in 2015, Syndergaard currently owns a 3.32 ERA through 120 starts (121 appearances total) with 777 strikeouts, 166 walks, and a 1.162 WHIP through 718.0 innings.

Heading to free agency for the first time in his career, the right-hander is in a peculiar spot given his injury history. He made only seven starts in 2017 due to a torn muscle in his throwing arm and recently missed a majority of the past two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery prior to the 2020 campaign. He made two starts at the end of the 2021 campaign, surrendering two earned runs through just 2.0 innings pitched.

When Syndergaard is healthy, he can be absolutely dominant on the mound, evident by his 3.32 career ERA. The issue is whether he can return from Tommy John surgery and find that groove that makes him such a strong pitcher and can he stay healthy for a majority of the season, especially since he won’t come with any type of discount.

Another wrinkle thrown into the mix is that the former Blue Jays prospect is eligible for a qualifying offer, a decision that will be coming soon for the Mets organization. I would imagine he will sign the offer if presented with the QO, meaning no team will be able to sign him and the Jays won’t even get a chance to bring Syndergaard back this offseason.

If he does get the QO and rejects it, the pros and cons will have to be weighed considering the club will lose a draft pick and he does have the health risk coming off the surgery.

Justin Verlander

One of the game’s top pitchers since his debut with the Detroit Tigers back in 2005, Justin Verlander heads to free agency this offseason and similar to Syndergaard, sits in a pretty peculiar situation.

For starters, Verlander has been absolutely dominant for his career, sporting a 3.33 ERA through 454 starts and 2988.0 innings with 3013 strikeouts, a 9.1 K/9, and a 1.134 WHIP. He also has a World Series Championship to his name (depending on who you ask) while also boasting a Rookie of the Year award, two Cy Young awards, eight all-star appearances, three no-hitters, and the pitcher’s version of the Triple Crown back in 2011.

He has only appeared in one game over the past two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery during the 2020 season and did not pitch at all this past season.

Coming off a two-year, $66 million dollar he signed with the Houston Astros, Verlander heads to free agency and will be eligible for a qualifying offer, something the Astros organization appears ready to extend to the veteran right-hander.

Many would think that Verlander would be wise to accept the offer given the recent injury but if he does end up a free agent for the first time in his career, regardless of declining the offer or not being offered one, he will have his fair share of suitors. He has been moved by the notion of becoming a free agent before and given how late in his career he currently sits, now is a better time than ever to explore that opportunity.

Considering he did undergo major surgery and will be turning 39 early next year, there is some risk that the right-hander will not be the same pitcher fans are used to seeing and will command some significant salary even in a short-term deal scenario. The Jays should have some payroll flexibility to go after a Verlander type pitcher without impacting the potential future extensions of the young core, as long as the deal doesn’t go past two years, the risk is more associated with whether Verlander can return to being the dominant pitcher he once was or whether he will struggle after being away for almost two full seasons.

If he does end up a free agent this offseason, the Blue Jays could risk a one or two-year deal on the right-hander, especially if Ray and Matz don’t return next season, as a veteran arm with his history could be dominant alongside Manoah, Ryu, and Berrios both on and off the mound.