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Blue Jays open to adding starting pitching even after the Santander signing
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Photo credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Jan 21, 2025, 19:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 21, 2025, 19:03 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to welcome the newest Blue Jay, Anthony Santander.
It was your typical press conference from general manager Ross Atkins, avoiding answering questions about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s potential extension, saying that fit between the team and Santander made sense, and noting that they’re open to adding. Notably, Atkins did say that the team has room to add a starting pitcher to the Major League Baseball roster.
The Blue Jays have been active in the starting pitching market, although they haven’t been able to land a pitcher. They were in on top starters Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, before having their hearts broken at the ball of the Rōki Sasaki sweepstakes, with the 23-year-old deciding to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
As of now, their rotation consists of Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, Bowden Francis, and Yariel Rodríguez. Francis finished the season fantastically, but is still rather unproven, while it’s been reported that the Jays wish to use Rodríguez out of the bullpen in a long-man/spot-starter role.
Signing a back-end starter, or even a front-of-the-rotation starter, would kill two birds with one stone, although the only way to acquire an ace-calibre pitcher would be through trade.
With that being said, the best starting pitcher remaining on the market is Jack Flaherty, although the Jays haven’t been connected to him in any way. Shocker, I know. Last season with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers, the 29-year-old finished with a 3.17 ERA and a 3.48 FIP in 162 innings pitched, along with a 29.9 K% and a 5.9 BB%. Acquiring Flaherty would add a starter with past injuries, albeit one that pitches well in the middle of the rotation.
On the other hand, the Blue Jays have been linked to three-time Cy Young-winning starter Max Scherzer. First to make the connection was Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith in this article here. Scherzer, now 40, isn’t the same pitcher he was when he was younger, as he had a 3.95 ERA and a 4.18 FIP in 43.1 innings pitched last season while dealing with numerous injuries.
However, he’s a season removed from 27 starts where he had a 3.77 ERA and a 4.32 FIP in 152.2 innings pitched, with a 28 K% and a 7.2 BB% while winning the 2023 World Series with the Texas Rangers. In 2022 with the New York Mets, the two-time World Series champion had a 2.29 ERA and a 2.62 FIP in 145.1 innings pitched, with a 30.6 K% and a 4.2 BB%.
If the Jays were able to sign Scherzer, it wouldn’t be for what he was, but for what he is now, a good back-end of the rotation starter who is on the decline. According to his Fangraphs’ projections, Steamer projects Scherzer will have a 3.97 ERA and a 3.98 FIP. His best projection comes from OOPSY, giving him a 3.88 ERA and a 4.12 FIP in 126 innings pitched.
Of course, the Blue Jays also need a left-handed pitcher in their rotation as well. Andrew Heaney may be the best available starter to fill that role, as he had a 4.28 ERA and a 4.04 FIP in 160 innings pitched last season with similar projections for the 2025 season.
There are still plenty of options for the Blue Jays when it comes to starting pitchers, even though none of them will front the team’s rotation. Hopefully, the Blue Jays and Ross Atkins get it done sooner rather than later.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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