The Blue Jays’ deadline pickups of David Price, Troy Tulowitzki, Ben Revere, LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe have provided a jolt to an already-strong roster, but there could be one more major addition on the way, as GM Alex Anthopoulos said on TSN 1040 radio in Vancouver today that there’s a possibility that Marcus Stroman could return to the rotation in September (audio link, with Stroman comments beginning near 11:50 mark).
“Right now, he’ll be stretched out to start,” said Anthpoulos. “We’ll see how many innings we can get out of him assuming no setbacks. Minor league season’s over on the seventh of September, and we’ll see how much he’s built up by then, and hopefully no setbacks at all. I know there’s been talk about reliever/starter. If he’s totally healthy, our plan is to bring him back as a starter.”
Clearly, that’s a very quick recovery from a serious injury — Stroman tore his ACL in Spring Training — but Stroman tweeted yesterday that Dr. James Andrews was “stunned” by the progress in his recovery, adding that he’s “shattering” his projected timetable to return. Jon Morosi of FOX Sports tweeted earlier today that Stroman told him that he felt “unbelievable” during a mound session today.
Anthopoulos stressed that Stroman’s career comes first, and if there are any setbacks, the team will shut him down for the season. However, given the nature of expanded rosters in September, the team could continue to stretch out Stroman to get to the point where he could make a start and be backed by a larger-than-usual bullpen. “Is he up to four innings at that time? Five innings? Three innings?” Anthopoulos asked rhetorically when explaining that the specific plan is dependent on Stoman’s progress. “If he looks like the Marcus from a year ago, and his stuff’s good, his command is good, everything looks good … If he’s close, if he’s a 70-pitch outing or 80, he could make a start at the big league level.”
Anthopoulos does not specify whether or not Stroman would be an option for the Blue Jays in a theoretical playoff run, though one would imagine that if he’s healthy and looks to be one of the team’s best options, that could be in the cards.
The Blue Jays’ rotation has improved since the beginning of the season due not only to the addition of Price, but also to the brilliant work of Marco Estrada since transitioning from the bullpen and the dramatically improved performances of R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle in the summer months. Adding Stroman to the mix would not only deepen the unit down the stretch, but would introduce an interesting new element to the club’s hypothetical postseason staff.
Lowe has put together 3 straight scoreless outings, Hawkins has been really good since the deal, Osuna and Hendriks have been really good. Sanchez has been stupidly good since moving to the pen.
They have a good enough 1-2-3 with Buehrle, Price and Estrada, with Dickey being able to start a game 4 if need be. Plus that offense, and suddenly really good defense.
I don’t see the need to rush him back before his ankle is ready.
I think the team agrees that he doesn’t need to be rushed, but if he’s ready and the knee is healed, then you might as well get him in the game. The 1-4 in the rotation are fine, but #5 is still relevent for the September push, and right now that’s Drew Hutchison. There’s zero depth behind him if anyone gets hurt (or even just sick). I’d feel much better towards the end of September at least having Stroman available as a long man who could spot-start than having Jeff Francis or Randy Wolf in that role.
Jeff Francis? Yikes..
Wrongfully saying its an ankle instead of a knee was a nice way to end what was an utterly deplorable comment.
Apparently I’m uneducated on the human body. I saw ‘ACL’ and thought ankle. Woops. I’m not so sure whats so deplorable about my comment, but I tried. Oh well.
How dare you say the Jays have a good team on this site!
ankle?
For once in about the past 4 years we were suppose to be good, everything is going right. Man its a good feeling
Looks good…gotta take advantage of the moment. My favorite radio team in baseball
AA has the right idea. Let him pitch as much as he is able, no reason to limit him to the bullpen since it wasn’t an arm injury.
Stro has shown what a driven and fierce competitor he is through his work ethic and remarkably quick recovery from this injury. A post season rotation of Price, Stro, Dickey and Buehrle looks pretty formidable and has us Jays fans legitimately dreaming of success in October. If he is physically 100% and picks up where he left off last year, he will be ready to take the ball when asked. He is also a very intelligent guy and I don’t think he would jeopardize his promising career (nor would the Jays front office) for an October run if he truly isn’t ready. Regardless, he is your AL Cy Young award winner next year. No doubt about it. You heard it here first people.
That line up alone should have you Jays fans dreaming off a deep run in October.. A solid pitching staff is just icing on the cake.. I don’t know about Cy Young winner next year just yet.. Sonny Gray is gonna give him competition there..
So being a fierce competitor makes your body recover faster from major injury? Interesting, I always thought baseball focused on other potential reasons for such a fast recovery.
I’m going to say there is at least some doubt a dude who missed all of this season is hands down 100% going to win his first Cy next season, since, you know, there are other good pitchers, but a prediction is a prediction I guess.
I’m just enjoying all the Jay fan hyperbole right now. It’s like a big parade.
In defense of Stroman…my deep analysis has concluded that Stroman is 99.78% more likely to win his first Cy Young next season than his second Cy Young next season. There is a small margin of inconclusion that I must account for, of course. I’m inclined to think this is being caused by the boost he’s receiving to his ego by Jays fans who feel he might actually win his first Cy Young this season on the back of his astounding September performance. But really, who could predict the -2.10 era coming?
If the BlueJays can get Stroman back in September it would mean a trip back to the World Series. Stroman is “unhittable.”
If Stroman can come back in September, the Jays will have one strong starting pitching staff. I think we will see them in the World Series.