Jays Journal
FanSided

The internal options the Blue Jays have for the bullpen on Opening Day

By Tyson Shushkewich

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Julian Merryweather #67 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 01, 2021 in New York City. The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 3-2 in ten innings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Julian Merryweather #67 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 01, 2021 in New York City. The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 3-2 in ten innings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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DUNEDIN, FLORIDA – APRIL 09: David Phelps #35 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at TD Ballpark on April 09, 2021 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

*All players on this slide are on the 40-man roster*

David Phelps – RHP

Back again on a minor league contract this season, this is veteran reliever David Phelps’s third time around with the Blue Jays. He began last season with the club, pitching to a 0.87 ERA through 10.1 innings of work with only one earned run and 15 strikeouts before a right lat injury put him on the IL and surgery took him out for the season. While the sample size was limited to just 11 outings last season, Phelps was shaping up to be one of the more dependable relievers in the Jays bullpen and I am convinced that if he were healthy, fans would not have been subjected to not nearly as many close game losses or watching Tyler Chatwood or Rafael Dolis squander late-game chances.

Phelps stands a good chance of making the team if he can find the same dominant form the front office witnessed early last year, as his veteran presence could go a long way both on the mound and in the clubhouse next year.

Anthony Castro – RHP

Plucked from the Detroit Tigers during the 2020/2021 offseason, Anthony Castro quickly became a fan favourite amongst the Blue Jays fanbase after his strong start in the 2021 campaign. While he did not make the Opening Day roster, injuries to the relief corps (Merryweather to be exact) made way for Castro to join the active roster in mid-April and he came out of the gates roaring and ready to go.

Throughout the entire month of April, he did not yield a single earned run through 7.1 innings of work while striking out nine batters with only one walk before hitting the IL on May 2nd with a forearm strain. Castro rejoined the club in late May and was pitching well for a while before two bad outings against the Yankees in mid-June saw the right-hander give up six earned runs through 0.2 innings of work. The Venezuelan product would bounce between AAA and the MLB for the rest of the season with another quick IL sting mixed in before finishing with a 4.74 ERA through 21 outings.

Castro is an interesting pitcher mixed in amongst the other internal options considering he started off strong and was heavily influenced by a few poor outings midway through the season. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Blue Jays have him start the year in Buffalo but he should be one of the first names called upon if something goes awry on the big league roster.

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