Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Wednesday the club will prioritize improving its strike throwing and defense this offseason, Scott Mitchell of TSN tweets. Although Toronto earned a playoff spot in 2020, its pitching staff ranked 28th in the majors in walks per nine innings (4.29), helping lead to a middling 4.63 ERA/4.73 FIP. The Blue Jays now have multiple openings in their starting staff, which could see Matt Shoemaker, Taijuan Walker and Robbie Ray leave in free agency. Defensively, the Jays ended up 20th in UZR (minus-6) and 29th in DRS (minus-39), so it’s also understandable that Atkins wants to address that aspect of the team.
Here’s more on the up-and-coming Jays…
- The Blue Jays promoted hyped right-handed prospect Nate Pearson in late July, but he ultimately went through an adverse rookie campaign. The 24-year-old threw 18 innings of 6.00 ERA/7.50 FIP ball, owing in part to elbow problems. Although Pearson didn’t experience the success or endure the workload the Jays were hoping for this year, they’re optimistic about him going forward (via Gregor Chisholm of the Toronto Star). “What I think it means is that he made progress this year, even though he had the injury and had the setback. He made his major-league debut, he showed he can get major-league hitters out, and he will better because of that in his progression next year,” said Atkins. Toronto will monitor Pearson’s innings in 2021, though he should still be an important part of its rotation.
- More from Chisholm, who writes that Toronto could hand the catching reins to Alejandro Kirk sometime in 2021, though he’s not a lock to begin the season with the big club. Atkins called the 21-year-old Kirk’s process “very, very mature,” but he’ll need a “very productive” winter to earn a season-opening spot with the Blue Jays. Kirk, who hadn’t played above High-A ball, was hugely impressive during his brief MLB debut in 2020, slashing .375/.400/.583 with a home run in 25 plate appearances. Primary catcher Danny Jansen batted .183/.313/.358 with six homers across 147 PA.
You know who’s a good strike thrower… (At least 5 people sighed when I said that because they should know what’s coming…)
Lance Lynn.
Bronson Arroyo
Bartolo Colon
Rangers29, you do a great job posting here and I look forward to what you have to say, but I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest more than 5 people sighed when they began reading your post.
Nonetheless, I hope you and the Rangers have a productive off season. Rangers fans and Angels fans both need it…
I was expecting you to say Pete Weber.
Lol, the bad boy of bowling. I’m oddly good at bowling, but I don’t know how many others caught that reference.
Roger Clemens
You know who else throws strikes? TJ Zeuch, he throws nothing but and is already on the jays. If it wasn’t for Covid this was the season that all the young guns got ready to go for the 2021 season. Now who knows but Lynn is not the answer
Part of the Blue Jays problem defensively is that they keep moving people around the diamond. I get the need for versatility, but you don’t need to have 5 guys moving all over the diamond. Let guys settle into a position and work on their defense there. Also, the Blue Jays outfielders need to learn to take better routes. There were several instances this season where balls could have been caught if the outfielder knew how to run them down.
When outfielders repeatedly run bad routes it is because of one or two reasons: 1. they need more development or 2. that they are poor defensively and will likely never run good routes [Hernandez, Grichuk, and Fisher].
The blue jays are like the maple leafs. Great offensive potential horrible defense. And i dont think it was the players moving around too much our outfield are good hitters horrible defenders. Bichette is still learning ss and hes already said he isnt interested in moving.. Well if you cant play defense martinez grohans or martin will take ur place. Guerrero jr. Will be a fine 1st basemen with time made minor mistakes but did fine will learn how to read throws with more practice.
I’m fairly sure I remember Bichette saying he’s open to moving positions if the Jays acquire someone. I’m sure he’d be open to moving from internal competition too if asked
Jimmer forgot Gurriel. Bad route runner also. Should never be nominated for a gold glove and is only nominated because of his arm.
However, Gurriel hasn’t had much time in the OF and I expect him to improve in 2021 with more reps.
I was actually thinking this exact same thing recently. Some consistency would go a long way.
Shapiro, “I want to be here. I want to finish the job,”
Question: What makes you think you can, you haven’t anywhere else?
Both Pearson and Kirk are the real deal. They need more development though.
It’s fun to get excited about Kirk but I worry about his physical shape and stamina. Like Guerrero and Tellez, he is another chubby guy with some pop
When the administration talks about acquiring more athletes, I wonder how many guys with a high BMI a lineup can hold
Kirk was fun, but I would hope the Blue Jays don’t let a handful of games get in the way of reality.
He shouldn’t be penciled into the 2021 plans.
Penciling is fine. Easily erased. Just don’t pen him in.
Let’s say hypothetically, the jays make the playoffs
Let’s say; hypothetically, the Astros are America’s team.
Took them 5 years to build a short season, playoff roster? Next! The most overrated Pres. of Baseball Ops. In the Gm. Is……Shapiro
4 years
I mean… they were clearly heading for a rebuild post 2016-2017. There was no way around it, you expected them to just continuously make the playoffs with an aging roster?
I think they’ve done a nice job with their rebuild. And with the expanded playoffs, they can now think of making the post-season while continuing to build. Good for the game. No more roster tear-downs and making fans endure multiple 100-loss seasons.
5’8″ and 265? Kirk has to worry about legitimate obesity before he concerns himself with a starting catching job.
Says the guy with zero MLB experience
Alejandro Kirk: The Round Mound of Pound!
If the defense was that bad, seems like an organizational issue as much as just an MLB issue.
or, you know, the youngest team (not including pitchers) in MLB getting their learning done in the majors rather than the minors, where most their age are still playing- often in the low minors
No way I leave my pitching staff in the hands of a 21-year-old catcher that’s not played above High A – too early.
no like the catcher has to call the game. and Jansen can’t throw out base runners or hit…
He was a good glove finalist last year. His rookie year. Jansen is a good catcher who can throw out runners if not he wouldn’t have been a GG finalist.
Catchers do call their own game unless you’re catching Ryu then it’s different. Jays are terrible defensively yet our catcher is a tremendous catcher. Why weaken arguably one of the most important defensive position for a lesser defender who can hit?
How about a father that can do both?
Lol. Catcher not father. Apple auto correct.
Yes a catcher that can do both would be ideal obviously. But that being said Realmuto should not be a priority for the free agents as pitching and third/second base should be the focus. Along with Kirk I believe he can be a good defensive catcher with time but as of now I would have Jansen and his defence over Kirk and his bat.
Thats why u keep russel martins to teach those young promessing catcher
An thats why you Keep edwin incarnation to teach the spanish young guy in the team
Thats why you keep the stro show on the mound
Rogers are cheap son of sheep
“And that’s why you waste $35-$40 million on veteran’s who’s only productive value to a losing team is being a good clubhouse influence”
[I’m not saying the Jays are a losing club now, but they were in 2017-2019]
Agreed about the cheap son of sheep part but I dunno if I can agree with the examples used.
Any team could have had Russ Martin in 2020.
The cheap son of sheep saved $3+ million trading him 2019 but there’s a 21 year old shortstop in the system now as well.
If Martin still had value, they could have brought him back? Maybe I missed something.
Edwin leaving resulted in Kendrys, who was great with the Cuban young guy Lourdes Gurriel Jr. They even shared an agency and signed on the same day.
Wouldn’t have signed Lourdes without Kendrys?
Might’ve still kept Edwin and got rid of M.V.Pearce earlier, but then maybe Espinal wouldn’t be in the picture?
Keep Stroman and there wouldn’t be a Woods-Richardson in the picture? Or Kay. But SWR seems to be the higher rated.
These are cheap son of sheep type moves for sure.
But the Rays pull it off.
They use a catcher that can’t hit as well.
Jansen seemed like the only Jay that didn’t stop trying in the game 2 loss and is also the team’s nominee for the Clemente Award, so I don’t see any need for this guy to be taught anything more than he was already taught as a rookie.
Jays don’t need a Realmuto type, they need a Zunino type?
I like Kirk but im reminded of Chris Farley.
Kirk an Guerrero fighting at the buffet table would make a great SNL skit
I would like to see JT Realmuto, Jansen hits 147 & has trouble catching pop-ups, Jays never got no offence from they’re catchers until Kirk was called up & then Jansen finally started hitting. McGuire & Joseph don’t hit either. Let JT mentor Kirk, Hopefully he does good in winterball if it’s on & gets into shape.
A long term contract for a 30 year old catcher who’ll command big money is quite probably the worst investment a team could ever make. The Russ Martin contract worked out okay, but most catchers decline quickly in their 30s on both sides of the game.
Also, the Jays’ minor league system is full of catching prospects. It’s the position of maximum depth. One of them will work out.
Explore the INF and decide if Bo is the SS or not. Go after two pitchers not named Stroman. Re-sign Shoemaker or Walker on the cheap.
Realmuto would be nice but not necessary.