Toronto Blue Jays: Go outside the comfort zone and sign Zack Wheeler
The Toronto Blue Jays have never been big spenders during the off-season, but spending some money on free agent pitcher Zack Wheeler could do wonders for the future rebuild.
This off-season has seen the Toronto Blue Jays already add and subtract players from their roster. Ross Atkins and co. acquired Chase Anderson from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for prospect Chad Spanberger, as well as dropping Devon Travis, Ryan Tepera, and a slew of others from their active and 40 man rosters.
The next thing the Toronto Blue Jays should do is acquire starting pitcher Zack Wheeler during this free agent period.
Would expect #BlueJays to be among the many teams checking in on Jake Odorizzi & Zack Wheeler. Those two arms are now linked to draft pick compensation, which will be a factor in where Jays' interest ultimately ends up https://t.co/AN0QOY3myU
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) November 5, 2019
One reason for this signing is that Wheeler would fill in the rest of the hole that plagued the Toronto Blue Jays starting rotation last year. Wheeler, combined with Matt Shoemaker and Anderson would create a team strong enough to compete everyday while still keeping a few rotation spots open for internal prospects like Nate Pearson and Anthony Kay to earn their spot.
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The second reason is that in signing Wheeler, the Toronto Blue Jays would have a long term player on their rotation for the foreseeable future, past the rebuilding years. Shoemaker and Anderson would then be able to battle it out to see if they can keep their spot on the roster, as long as they produce, while also following the rotation with potential internal replacements.
Shoemaker was really considered just a stop gap for the prospects to keep on developing, but his strong play before tearing his ACL last season made it hard to let him after the upcoming season (he is signed through 2020). Anderson comes with a higher price tag than Shoemaker, but his longevity on the Blue Jays roster will probably be until he is a free agent.
By signing Wheeler to a long term contract (4-5 years), the Toronto Blue Jays will have a pitcher grow and develop with the younger core of prospects, but bring in the veteran presence that is lacking with the likes of Justin Smoak possibly not returning and Ken Giles on the trading block.
The last and final reason is Wheeler’s overall numbers. His career ERA is 3.77, while his WHIP also stands at an impressive 1.294. He has also crafted a 44-38 record while starting 126 games, and has accumulated 726 career strikeouts in his 5 seasons of MLB baseball.
The one caveat on Wheeler’s record is his injury past, where he had to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2015, which kept him off the shelf for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Something to take note of, but something that cannot be a deterrent where trying to improve the squad moving forward.
He also rejected a qualifying offer from the New York Mets, so signing him would result in draft pick compensation.
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It’s time Ross Atkins put on his big boy pants, spend some Rogers ownership money on quality free agents and improve the Toronto Blue Jays in order to facilitate and accelerate the rebuild.