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Toronto Blue Jays: Five Moves the Club Should Make Post-Lockout

By David Corcoran

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 23: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians grounds out to end the third inning during game one of a double header against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on September 23, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 23: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians grounds out to end the third inning during game one of a double header against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on September 23, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 30: Nate Pearson #24 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the eighth inning of their MLB game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on September 30, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

4. Move Nate Pearson to Bullpen full-time in 2022
I know this is an unpopular opinion as Nate Pearson has a ton of upside, but my thought behind this is that I want to see Pearson get through a full season healthy.  Pearson has a long track record of injuries since turning pro with the Blue Jays organization in 2017.

Over his five-year professional career,  Pearson has only thrown 187 innings.  His combined workload between the minors and MLB each season has been:

2017 – 20 IP
2018 – 1.2 IP
2019 – 101.2 IP
2020 – 18 IP (MLB)
2021 – 45.2 IP

With Pearson, he has been unable to really develop over the past few years as he is constantly rehabbing injuries and once he gets healthy, he finds himself on the injured list again.  I’d like him to have a low workload in 2022 that allows him to build on his strength, have a full season with the Blue Jays club, and build up his confidence.  If he is never able to turn into that front of the rotation starter and we have to settle for a power arm in the back of the rotation I would be very happy.  What Pearson reminds me of right now is Aaron Sanchez and Dustin McGowan where they had a ton of potential, but injuries kept derailing their career and the club kept pushing them as starters.

5. Sign Corey Dickerson
I would love to see the club be able to sign a player like Kris Bryant, but I think the cost would be too much and with the Blue Jays organization having a lot of players that are going to get paid big contracts over the next few seasons, you need to find good depth signings.

If the club is able to trade for Jose Ramirez, I believe Lourdes Gurriel Jr is out the door (I would prefer Randal Grichuk) and that would leave the club needing a fourth outfielder.  Last season when the Jays acquired Corey Dickerson he was on the injured list but when he came back healthy, he provided good results as a depth player.  In 140 plate appearances, Dickerson posted a slash line of .282/.329/.450 and was able to spend time in all three outfield positions.  I don’t think the price on Dickerson would be too much and can fill in the long term if the outfield deals with injuries again.

Next. Bridge to Jordan Romano. dark

Are there any of these moves you think the club should not do or don’t have a chance?  Any other moves you would like the club to do?

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