The Blue Jays are exploring options to address their mounting injury crisis, and that search might lead them back to a familiar face.
Marcus Stroman remains unsigned as a free agent, and Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report listed Toronto among potential landing spots for the former Blue Jays All-Star.
“Other landing spots: Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals,” Rymer noted when projecting Stroman’s eventual destination.
It’s easy to see why the Blue Jays made the list. Their rotation is in shambles.
Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, and Bowden Francis all started the season on the injured list. Now Cody Ponce and potentially Max Scherzer are joining them after just two weeks.
That’s left Toronto scrambling for arms, sitting at 4-6 partly because their pitching staff can’t stay healthy.
The Stroman Option
Here’s the thing about Stroman – he’s not the pitcher he once was. His 2024 season with the Yankees was rough, posting a 6.23 ERA across nine outings. That’s not exactly inspiring.
But when you’re dealing with this many injuries, you need innings. Period.
The 34-year-old right-hander was an All-Star for Toronto back in 2019, putting up a 2.96 ERA in 21 starts. He knows the organization, understands the expectations, and could step in immediately.
What makes this different is Toronto’s timeline. They’re not looking for a long-term solution – they need someone who can eat innings while their actual rotation gets healthy.
That’s where Stroman comes in. Even if he’s not great, he’d give them a veteran presence and some stability. The Blue Jays can’t keep running out inexperienced arms every fifth day.
Risk vs. Reward
Let’s put it this way – Stroman’s floor is pretty low given last year’s struggles. But his ceiling? There’s enough recent success to think he could bounce back, at least temporarily.
The cost would be minimal since he’s still available in late April. Toronto could structure a deal that protects them while giving Stroman a chance to rebuild his value.
From where I’m sitting, it’s worth exploring. The Blue Jays need rotation help now, not later. They can’t afford to wait for their injured starters to return while falling further behind in the standings.
All things considered, a Stroman reunion makes sense for both sides. He gets another shot to prove last year was an aberration. They get a veteran arm who can provide immediate depth.
It’s not perfect, but perfect isn’t available right now.
