Toronto Blue Jays: Current starting rotation at the moment

The Blue Jays head into the offseason with several questions around who will be in their lineup come the start of the 2022 MLB campaign.  The starting rotation has the biggest question marks going into the upcoming season, as the club primarily used six different starters during this past season, and two of them will likely hit free agency.

The most documented pitcher to become a free agent is Robbie Ray, who appears to be the front runner for the AL Cy Young Award winner.  Jon Heyman reported Saturday night that the Blue Jays give him and Marcus Semien qualifying offers, which I believe both will turn down for a contract closer to the nine figure area.  By the club giving him the qualifying offer, they will receive a compensation pick in next year’s draft if they should sign with another team.  Heyman also recently predicted on MLB Network that Ray would sign with the New York Yankees, however, he could see one of Semien or Ray returning to the Blue Jays.

Heyman reported Saturday night as well that the Blue Jays were not going to tender a qualifying offer to Steven Matz who will be turning 31 early in next season.  He is coming off a career year that saw post a 14-7 record with a 3.82 ERA, but he would not be worth the $18.4 million contract.  It was reported that the Blue Jays offered him a multi-year deal that he turned down.

So with those two pitchers gone, what does the rotation look like at this time?

Back of the rotation

Ross Stripling – 5-7 | 4.80 ERA | 1.27 WHIP | 101.1IP | 94K
The 2021 season was a roller coaster ride for Ross Stripling.  Early in the year he looked like he could be designated for assignment as he had a 0-3 record with a 7.20 ERA through his first six starts. However, a small change in his mechanics saved his season and maybe his career.  After the legendary Pete Walker helped Stripling change the positioning of his hands during his delivery, he went on to post a 3-1 record with a 2.35 ERA over his next eight appearances.  In fact, from the time of his pitching mechanics change after his May 19 start and until he went down with an injury on August 10, Stripling made 14 appearances and posted a 3.29 ERA while averaging almost five innings an appearance.

Stripling missed nearly a month of baseball during his injury and when he came back there was not a spot in the rotation, so he pitched out of the bullpen. Ideally in a full season, you would like to see Stripling in a similar spot he was in at the end the year, where he is used for long relief, but if an injury arises he can jump into the rotation.  Stripling is in the last year of arbitration, which MLB Trade Rumors has slated him for around $4.4 million for the season.

Nate Pearson – 1-1 | 4.20 ERA | 1.73 WHIP | 15 IP | 20K
Originally I had Trent Thornton slated as the number five man in the rotation, but I ended up putting Nate Pearson in this spot.  I really do not want to see him in the rotation and it’s not because I don’t think he has the talent.  Pearson has had injury trouble for his entire professional career and I would like to see an entire major league season from him, which right now I feel the bullpen is the best spot.

I often think about Dustin McGowan and Aaron Sanchez with Pearson, as the team kept pushing them as starters, but had they used them as relief pitchers they may have had longer and better careers.  With that being said, Pearson has electric stuff and finished off the season very well.  After battling injures through the beginning of the season, he came back and made 11 appearances in September.  In those relief appearances, he posted a 2.84 ERA with 20 strikeouts over 12.2 innings pitched, however, over the last two seasons he has thrown a combined 63.2 innings split between the Blue Jays and Bisons.

Other options:
Trent Thornton – Made 29 starts in 2019 and made 37 relief appearances for the Jays this season.
Thomas Hatch – If Hatch could stay healthy he is likely a better option than Thornton, but he has not been able to stay off the injured list.
Anthony Kay – 2021 was a forgettable season for Anthony Kay, who couldn’t get anything going in Buffalo or Toronto.  Control and home runs have become his biggest problem that he needs to get over.
Nick Allgeyer – Made one appearance out of the Blue Jays bullpen, and led the Triple-A Bisons in innings pitched.
Jacob Waguespack – Forgotten prospect, turned 28 this week and spent entire season in Buffalo where he had a 7-2 record with a 2.86 ERA.

Who is your current five-man rotation?