People know a healthy Toronto Blue Jays lineup can be a top five unit in MLB, but the rotation and pitching staff in general have a lot more question marks. So do they press for a breakthrough out of an arm like Aaron Sanchez’s, or do they take a more conservative approach to monitoring his progress?
Though they’re yet to name an outright closer for their bullpen, the Toronto Blue Jays have solidified the rotation with a move that will send Drew Hutchison to Triple-A, resulting in Aaron Sanchez claiming the fifth and final spot — for now.
Sanchez had a fine spring and deserves to be named the No. 5 starter. The former first round pick went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 19 strikeouts over an even 20 innings pitched. His command looked great too, as the 23-year-old walked only three batters all preseason.
Manager John Gibbons will open things up with Marcus Stroman, who will likely be followed in succession by R.A. Dickey, J.A. Happ and Sanchez for the Jays. Marco Estrada is likely to begin the season in the disabled list with a stiff back, which means Hutchison, Jesse Chavez or possibly Gavin Floyd could likely be in line for some spot starts until Estrada heals.
But Gibbons alluded to that fact that he does not want to burn Sanchez out in 2016 and that he may not end the season in the rotation, even if healthy. “I don’t see him pitching the whole year as a starter,” Gibbons said, “because I think it’d be harmful to him. We’ve got to be smart about this too – his future.”
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Is Sanchez beginning the season as a starter and possibly ending it as a reliever really what’s best for the Toronto Blue Jays? He has only pitched 125.1 innings over the course of the last two seasons. That can be a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it. Aside from Stroman, he’s the most electric arm Toronto has that is ready for regular innings as a starter. Estrada was great in 2015 but lives and dies by his change-up. Dickey is an innings eater and no longer capable of shutting out teams for consecutive games, and Happ is merely a middle of the pack southpaw in the rotation.
In terms of potential, Stroman and Sanchez lead the way for long-term prospects in the Jays’ rotation. Stroman, 24, is under contract until 2021, as is Sanchez unless anything changes between now and the end of their arbitration eligibilities. Though similar in age, the difference between Stroman and Sanchez is, Aaron was never really stretched out as a starter in the minors and doesn’t have the benefit of having built up endurance pitching in college.
Stroman pitched for Duke University and threw 111.2 innings in 2013 for Double-A New Hampshire. Then in 2014, he again topped 100 IP, with 130.2 coming in Toronto and another 35.2 coming with Triple-A Buffalo. In Sanchez’s pro career, he’s topped 100 IP only once. That came in 2014 between the Majors, Double and Triple-A. In 2015, he threw 92.1 innings, with 26.1 of those coming from out of the pen.
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The benefits of Aaron Sanchez sticking around in the rotation for all of 2016 present the possibility of a breakout, experience for the young righty and ostensibly, more wins for the Toronto Blue Jays in the talent-ridden AL East. However, Gibbons will be careful with his management Sanchez. He has to be, because after last year’s trades, the Jays don’t have many top pitching prospects to call upon when they are in need of the vitality that comes with a powerful, young arm.