Here’s the latest from the Blue Jays’ camp in Dunedin…
- Ryan Borucki will miss at least one regular season start as a precautionary measure after the right-hander felt elbow pain during a recent start in minor league camp. The Athletic’s John Lott (Twitter links) was among those to report the news from Jays manager Charlie Montoyo and Borucki himself, who didn’t sound too concerned about the problem. Borucki has battled elbow problems in the past, including a Tommy John surgery, and said that injury experience allowed him “to figure out what’s good pain and what’s bad pain, and really, [the current injury] was nothing to really worry about.” The Blue Jays have Sean Reid-Foley, Thomas Pannone, Sam Gaviglio, or Trent Thornton as potential fill-in candidates for Borucki’s one start.
- The Astros were one of the teams that showed interest in trading for Marcus Stroman over the winter, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports (subscription required). The Reds and Padres were also linked to Stroman in reports. Stroman is under team control through the 2020 season, though the combination of the Jays’ rebuild and Stroman’s own outspoken displeasure over a lack of extension talks and the club’s winter moves could be signs that the Blue Jays will eventually move on from the right-hander. To rebuild trade value, however, Stroman will have to rebound from a disappointing 2018 season. From Houston’s perspective, Stroman would give the team additional pitching depth beyond the coming year, since Gerrit Cole, Wade Miley, Brad Peacock, and Collin McHugh are all scheduled to hit free agency in the 2019-20 offseason. (Justin Verlander is also part of this group, though he and the Astros appear to be closing in on an extension.)
- Clay Buchholz could be ready for rotation duty by early April, GM Ross Atkins told reporters, including The Athletic’s John Lott (subscription required). Buchholz was a late entry to camp, as he didn’t sign with the Jays until the start of March, plus he was also shut down by the Diamondbacks last September due to a flexor mass strain in his throwing elbow. For now, however, the veteran righty looks to be making good progress towards his eventual Toronto debut, which could be a boon given Borucki’s injury status.
- Former first-round pick Max Pentecost has stepped away from spring camp to consider his future in baseball, Sportsnet.ca’s Shi Davidi reports. Pentecost was the 11th overall pick of the 2014 draft, though he has been plagued by shoulder problems throughout his young career, and also dealt with an elbow injury even prior to his draft selection. The Blue Jays had slowly been getting Pentecost re-acclimated to catching, culminating in Pentecost being behind the plate for 660 innings for Double-A New Hampshire last season.
Borucki might actually be right handed, but he definitely throws with his left hand.
Blue Jays trade to-do list by the deadline: Stroman, Smoak, Pillar, Giles, Galvis, Morales (god willing), Richard, Shoemaker. Time to tear it all down!!
I’m game for that.
The only way you trade guys like Stroman or Giles is if a team overpays and both of there values are extremely low
*by the deadline*
Plenty of time to boost their trade values.
Yeah I agree as long as they increase there value. I’m tired of watching pillar swing at everything and stroman making an @$$ out of himself on social media.
Oh cmon! Yea Stroman is a Whiney b1z5n@tch, but despite Pillars plate struggles, ain’t no way Superman is Dead as long as he’s in Center for Jays!
A bit of an aside but this led me to looking at Stroman’s Baseball Reference Page which led me to look at the 2012 draft (the year he got drafted).
That was quite a deep draft, one of the deeper ones that I have seen
Max Pentecost’s injuries derailed him. He had TJ surgery prior to being draft. Wasn’t a red flag for AA and his brass. Although, signing their 1st round pick was a moral victory for them. The overrated ex-GM aside, hoping for the best for Max. Never heard a bad thing about the guy.
More Blue Jays injuries. Not good.
Max Pentecost is an average prospect.. If Maile can play in the big leagues so can Pentecost. He’ll go back to AA and give it another shot. Bank on it.
I like Borucki. Let’s hope it is a temporary short term injury. I am hearing it will be a week or two though. He needs to keep beefing up to fill a #2 role in the rotation.
Stroman is going to have a tough time this year. His consistent game to game good starting performances are over. Let’s move him to the closer position.
Anything the Jays get out of Bucholz is a bonus.
This Jays mgmt team better be all-in tear down by the trade deadline.
you didnt hear anything about the length of Boruckis injury from anyone. You aren’t a scout, or plugged in to any inside information regarding the team. Please stop, you’re unbearable.
Iron Mike – some reports have suggested Borucki is going to miss 1 start as a precaution due to past elbow issues, which would make the timeline 1-2 weeks as Jimmer stated. Unbearable or not, you just went after someone that said something accurate.
Now Jimmer…..
Pentecost might be able to play (badly) in the majors. Couple problems, starting with his inability to perform in the minors like an 11th overall prospect should. That falls on AA and his regime. Also, Blue Jays have Jansen with McGuire starting in AAA and more catchers at the lower levels. Because Pentecost can’t hit, where is his future? Answer: probably not in Toronto.
Not going to say Stroman is poised for disaster. He might, he might not. Let’s hope for a good start to the season and hope for a quick trade. Very quick trade. Very, very quick trade.
We all heard the same reports about Borucki. its the way he constantly insinuates he has some kind of inside knowledge of the team that comes straight from the organization. He ruins every threar he comments on. Unbearable.
That is not true. From day one I have been saying Borucki can be a rotation #2 but he needs to beef up. I suspect 2 years and he is there.
If you are going to insult someone, at least get it right.
I like Stroman as closer.
I can’t see a quick trade for Stroman, might want one, but can’t see it.
Blue Jays have very good minor league depth at catcher. Perhaps Pentecost has to find another organization.