Bullpen Overhaul Key To Blue Jays Success
It is no secret that the Blue Jays need bullpen help this offseason.
With the mid-season trades of Yimi Garcia and Trevor Richards, the release of Tim Mayza, and the recent departure of Jordan Romano, Toronto's longest tenured relievers are Chad Green and Erik Swanson, both of whom arrived in 2023.
There are plenty of names available and the Blue Jays will seemingly be connected to all of them.
The bullpen market is perhaps the most fluid and volatile out of all positions though, as many transactions are done quietly, sneaking under the radar of the more bigger free agent signings ad blockbuster.
While the Jays have a capable back end in Green and Swanson and a potential long reliever/hybrid/swingman in Yariel Rodriguez, the revolving door that was the Blue Jays bullpen last year, didn't inspire much confidence.
While the Blue Jays are high on Brendon Little, having a rookie middle reliever carry the entire relief corps is an unreasonable burden. Zach Pop will most likely be back and prospect Adam Macko has an outside shot to make the team out of spring.
Several others like Easton Lucas, Brandon Eisert, Tommy Nance and Nick Robertson, appeared in a handful of games.
Thus, the Jays would be wise to add at least two or three arms here to complement Green, Swanson, and Little.
While the Blue have been connected to closers like Devin Williams and Ryan Pressly, adding a couple of traditional 1-2 inning middle relievers, as well as another swingman, could lessen the pressure on the returnees.
Many relievers are low-risk signings, and the Blue Jays would be wise to take a flyer on several available arms.
While there are certainly other needs to be addressed on the Blue Jays roster - Vlad Jr., outfield for starters - the bullpen needs to be the most important area addressed over the winter.
If the Jays can add two or three solid arms without having to spend exorbitantly, they will find themselves in a decent position for 2025.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 9 | 234 ANSWERS Bullpen Overhaul Key To Blue Jays Success How many relievers should the Jays add this offseason? | ||
| None | 3 | 1.3 % |
| 1-2 | 71 | 30.3 % |
| 3-5 | 149 | 63.7 % |
| More than five | 11 | 4.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
