These out-of-option players should be on the Blue Jays' radar

Here's how the Blue Jays could benefit from the rest of MLB's roster crunch.
Kansas City Royals v Cleveland Guardians
Kansas City Royals v Cleveland Guardians | Nick Cammett/GettyImages
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Triston McKenzie, Cleveland Guardians (RHP)

Triston McKenzie
Oct 8, 2022: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie (24) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning during game two of the Wild Card series for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

A one-time top prospect in Cleveland's vaunted pitching factory, McKenzie looked like the real deal in 2022 when he recorded a 2.96 ERA in 191 1/3 innings on a Guardians team that surprised everyone in baseball by winning the American League Central.

Unfortunately for McKenzie, it's all gone downhill since then. After only managing to throw 16 innings in 2023 due to a teres major strain and a UCL sprain, he was ineffective last season with a 5.11 ERA in 75 2/3 innings.

The Guardians have roster crunch in their starting rotation (thanks in large part to them flipping former Blue Jay Spencer Horwitz to the Pirates for Luriz Ortiz) and McKenzie could end up being the odd man out thanks to his lack of options.

While there's always the chance Cleveland elects to keep him in their bullpen, he's struggled so far this spring (four earned runs allowed in 2 2/3 innings), so Cleveland might just end up cutting bait with him.

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