Two pitchers who were expected to play a big role with the Blue Jays in 2015 - starter Marcus Stroman and reliever Brett Cecil - will have their roles diminished, to say the least. Stroman will miss the entire season with a torn ACL and Cecil is currently dealing with mild rotator cuff inflammation.
These significant spring training injuries will undoubtedly affect the team's performance this upcoming season. Is Toronto now considering making a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, who have starter Cole Hamels and closer Jonathan Papelbon on the trade block?
The more serious injury is obviously to Stroman. The 23-year-old was slated for a breakout season after finishing 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 26 games (20 starts) in 2014, but now he won't see the mound. The loss of Stroman means Toronto will have some unproven arms (Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris) or fairly unreliable ones (Marco Estrada and Johan Santana) competing for a spot in the rotation. However, the Jays have their sights on an AL East title, and that might not be the way to address the issue.
"Rather than force-feeding Norris and/or Sanchez into the rotation or having to rely on Estrada, the Blue Jays have to go after Cole Hamels," writes David Schoenfield of ESPN. "This is exactly the scenario Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. needed to create a better deal for Hamels: A spring training injury to a top-of-the-rotation starter on a playoff contender. Considering Cliff Lee may now have to face surgery, the rebuilding Phillies should feel extra pressure to trade Hamels now to avoid the risk that he, too, gets injured and loses all his trade value."
Is this not the time to make moves? The AL East is wide open and the Blue Jays haven't made the postseason since 1993. Schoenfield notes prospects such as Sanchez, Norris and even Jeff Hoffman may interest Phillies' General Manager Ruben Amaro, who is seeking three top prospects in exchange for Hamels.
But because of their payroll situation, Hamels' contract (guaranteed $96 million over the next four seasons) could prove too expensive for Toronto, which is why Papelbon could be a likelier option.
The Jays were in talks with the Phillies about acquiring the veteran closer, but even his contract proved to be an issue for their payroll earlier in the offseason. Papelbon will make $13 million in 2015 (as opposed to Hamels' $23.5 million) and he also has a $13 million vesting option for 2016 if he finishes 48 games this season, which is almost inevitable.
Cecil's shoulder inflammation is much less alarming than Stroman's ACL tear, but the left-hander's ailment could be a nagging issue throughout the season and has the potential to create a mess in the back-end of the team's bullpen. Additionally, Sanchez was used in 24 games last season as a reliever and could have perhaps provided continuity in the pen, but the organization has reverted him back to the rotation this spring and it looks like it will be staying that way.
Papelbon has been one of the most consistent closers in baseball over the years and would provide immediate relief for Toronto's bullpen.
Earlier in the offseason it was said the Blue Jays had between $5 million and $7 million left to spend, barring an approval by ownership to increase the payroll. Well it looks like it's time for those in control to deepen their pockets if they want to increase their chances of making the postseason, or else the Blue Jays will be relying on young and unproven arms in both the rotation and bullpen to get them wins and preserve leads.
