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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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WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 17: Tayler Saucedo #54 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park on August 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

*All players on this slide are on the 40-man roster except for Shaun Anderson*

Tayler Saucedo – LHP

Southpaw Tayler Saucedo started the 2021 season in AAA alongside Snead and would end up being one of the first reliever prospects called up to the Major Leagues in mid-June. A.J. Cole went on the 60-day IL and Jeremy Beasley was struggling at the big league level, making way for Saucedo.

The Hawaii product would spend the next month and a half with the Blue Jays before being transferred between the MLB and AAA on numerous occasions to finish out the year. Saucedo had a strong start to his MLB career, giving up only two earned runs through his first 15 outings before giving up four earned runs in early August against Cleveland, elevating his ERA to 4.73. He would continue pitching well but had another rough outing against the Washington Nationals on August 17th where he was tagged for three earned runs and would eventually finish the season with a 4.56 ERA with a 3.5 BB/9, a 6.7 K/9, and a 3.60 FIP.

Saucedo will likely be competing alongside Snead and Borucki for one of the available bullpen spots when it comes to left-handers in the relief corps but there is a possibility that both Snead and Saucedo could begin the year in AAA waiting for a potential injury to be their shot at making the roster next season. Expect a potential battle in Spring Training between the three left-handers as all three could be reliable left-handed options next season, with Borucki having a potential edge given his experience.

Shaun Anderson – RHP 

Picked up from the San Diego Padres on the same day 40-man rosters needed to be set for Rule 5 Draft protection, right-hander Shaun Anderson is a late addition who could find himself in the mix for a bullpen spot on Opening Day.

Anderson is coming off a horrendous 2021 campaign split between three different ball clubs where he posted a combined 8.49 ERA through 23.1 innings with 22 earned runs,12 walks, and 19 strikeouts.

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The right-hander is currently off the 40-man roster and is probably the biggest longshot of the group to make the Opening Day roster. Stranger things have obviously happened but Anderson will need a fantastic Spring Training and possibly some injury luck in order to crack the roster.

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