Predicting the Blue Jays Opening Day roster if the season started today

Bullpen

The Jays bullpen dealt through a lot of injuries and disappointments last season. The Blue Jays signed Kirby Yates to a one-year $5.5 million dollar contract, one I thought would end up being a steal. Yates posted a 1.19 ERA in 2019 with a league-leading 41 saves. He was so good, he finished ninth in the National League Cy Young balloting. He did not throw a single pitch for the Blue Jays as he underwent Tommy John Surgery prior to the regular season and spent all year on the IL.

The Jays bullpen ranked eighth in the American League with a 4.08 ERA and 12th in innings pitched. With that in mind, the Jays tried to acquire a proven late-game arm in Brad Hand to try and help propel them to the postseason. Hand pitched in just 11 games for the Blue Jays and pitched to a 7.27 ERA. He was released after a few weeks

Julian Merryweather has looked really promising but can’t seem to stay healthy. Rafael Dolis went from being one of the late-game relievers for Charlie Montoyo to choose from to being DFA’d by season’s end. Tyler Chatwood is another arm who had some success early but collapsed and was DFA’d.

The Jays signed Yimi Garcia to help their bullpen for this season, but I don’t think they’re done re-tooling the ‘pen. If the season started tomorrow, I believe these eight pitchers will be a part of the bullpen.

6) Jordan Romano
7) Tim Mayza
8) Yimi Garcia
9) Julian Merryweather
10) Adam Cimber
11) Trevor Richards
12) David Phelps
13) Nate Pearson

I believe the Jays bullpen is pretty much set with the exception of the last two spots. Jordan Romano became the full-time closer last year and was dominant. Tim Mayza became a dependable left-handed reliever who the Jays could trust to get the big left-handed hitters out.

Garcia is the Jays’ new bullpen addition who I believe is a solid middle innings reliever. Merryweather has flashed his potential, he just has to stay healthy. Adam Cimber and Trevor Richards were both acquired last season and were both solid acquisitions. They should be reliable arms again.

David Phelps is a guy I believe does make the team but has an uphill battle only because he’s not on the 40-man roster. He signed a minor league deal this offseason. Phelps made just 11 appearances for the club last season but is a guy that when healthy can pitch in a couple of different roles.

Nate Pearson’s been extremely disappointing at the big league level. He has not stayed healthy and has not been effective. He has electric stuff which helped him strike out 12.0/9 last season, but he walked an absurd 7.2/9. He’s only made 17 appearances in his two seasons. If the Jays make him a permanent reliever for now maybe health will be easier to come by.