For the next season, the Toronto Blue Jays will have one of the big rotations of the American. With Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alek Manoah in the top-4, the club is in full swing.
As for the fifth position, we think either of Ross Stripling, Nate Pearson, a surprise at camp or a outsider. And in my opinion, it will have to go through a player (ideally left-handed) outside the organization, in order to create depth internally.
After all, I foresee a lot of pitching injuries in general in 2022 in MLB…and you have to make sure you have a plan B if things go wrong.
Let it be said: it’s going to be fine with the Blue Jays. The club has a rotation which I think will get the job done.
On the other hand, there is a world – which leaders must anticipate – where things are going badly and the rotation is not as good as expected.
A world where Kevin Gausman is not the pitcher of 2021, his big career year.
A world where Hyun-Jin Ryu doesn’t perform like the pitcher he is at his peak, like in 2020.
A world where sophomore bad luck hits Alek Manoah.
As I tell you, this is a scenario that should not happen (especially not all three at the same time), but still: it is a possibility.
That said, I don’t see a scenario where Jose Berrios doesn’t deliver – other than a big injury, as all players are at risk. He is, in my opinion, the biggest certainty among pitchers in Toronto, a club ready to spend.
The Blue Jays would have received the OK to spend (a lot)
And this, despite the big signings made in 2021 (George Springer, Jose Berrios and Kevin Gausman).
Berrios is a guy who is very often healthy. He’s a guy who always throws a lot. He’s a guy who always throws well. He’s a guy who’s proven to be able to pitch in Toronto in 2021.
He’s a guy who received a vote of confidence (with his big contract) so important that he let his plans to reach full autonomy in a year.
In the best of all possible worlds, he will be the next Blue Jays pitcher to receive votes for the Cy Young after Hyun-Jin Ryu (2020) and Robbie Ray (winner in 2021). He has that potential and he has never been slowed down in recent years.
The pitcher, who is the Toronto squad I trust the most, is the certainty the Blue Jays need. Anything can happen, of course, but the former Twins inspires me (really) confidence.
