Two of the Blue Jays’ key offseason signings – center fielder George Springer and left-hander Robbie Ray – will miss the start of the season, manager Charlie Montoyo announced to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet and other reporters (Twitter links). Springer has been dealing with a Grade 2 oblique strain since last week, while Ray has a bruised elbow.
Indications before Wednesday were that Springer wouldn’t be ready for the season opener, but this is nonetheless a disappointing way for the former Astro’s Toronto tenure to begin. The three-time All-Star signed the richest free-agent guarantee in the sport this past offseason – a six-year, $150MM contract – but will miss at least the first six games of 2021 for the Blue Jays. However, the playoff hopefuls still have a capable outfield trio with Randal Grichuk set to fill in for Springer alongside Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez in the corners.
Ray wasn’t nearly as expensive as Springer in free agency, but it did cost the Jays $8MM on a one-year pact to re-sign him. Ray has typically been a capable mid-rotation starter, though he slumped to a 6.62 ERA/5.49 SIERA with a similarly woeful 17.9 percent walk rate in 51 2/3 innings between Arizona and Toronto last season. The Jays are betting on a rebound, but that will have to wait for now, leaving Ross Stripling, Tanner Roark, Steven Matz, T.J. Zeuch and Anthony Kay as options behind ace Hyun Jin Ryu heading into the season.
That starting rotation doesn’t inspire much confidence…
I was hoping they’d get a Paxton or another 1-2 year deal for someone who can help now but ultimately there isn’t a real expectation for this team to fix all their holes in one offseason.
Not to mention most in the know are expecting a lot of pitcher injuries this year due to the increase in workload. So outside of a few fantasy team rotations in the NL, many teams depth is going to be tested early and often.
I expect a crazy high scoring year
I do think it’s fair to say that the rotation is a tick better than the start of last year.
Mets dodged a bullet with springer
Because of an oblique strain? Stop being awful
No, because he hasn’t proven he can produce anywhere near his contract without signs being fed to him
Can you prove that statement? I bet you can’t
so you missed the 146 wRC+ he put up last year…lol
I agree, Spring is overratted anyway
Yeah you dodged a 132 OPS+ bullet lol
What will you say when deGrom opts out and the four FAs sign elsewhere?
I won’t have to worry about it for another two full seasons. Lol. Look up when degroms opt out is.
Your Mets did not dodge $341-mil the next 10 years to Lindor. I think I’d rather have Springer for 6.
This is really bad news. They need Springer back ASAP (hopefully April 8th) cause I question their ability to score without him. Bo is gonna have to carry the offence lol. Their pitching staff is awful, the only way we win games is by piling on runs. PRAY FOR GEORGE.
7th last year in runs scored with out Springer.
Should see improvements from Vlad, Semien, Tellez, guirriel and Jansen/Kirk. Even if there is some regression from Teoscar, and bichette, this offense is deep and well rounded, they will definitely be in the top 10 again in runs scored
Did Toronto notice Springer’s track record? Good player, just injury prone. This is typical George Springer, cousin to Aaron Judge (in spirit, injury spirit).
Wow Jays go 3/3 on injured offseason signings. Yates, Ray, and Springer all likely out for the season. Maybe they should hire new doctors who actually know what they’re doing.
You’re worse than those housewvies on TV that my wife watches. Ray is missing one start due to a freak off field accident. How were the doctors suppose know Ray would fall down a flight of stairs? Springer is out one to two weeks.
Man.
These guys need to spend more time kayaking & boating. Great natural workout for your core. All these oblique strains.
I know you’re not going to win a Gun Show with a strong core but something seems to be missing from a lot of these players training regimen.
Yanks have had way too many of these over the past few seasons.
I understand breaking bones from diving catches or being hit by a fastball or whatever. That’s more than understandable.
But so many injuries these days seem to be basic conditioning issues; warm up, flexibility, core.
Springer is an excellent heel.
Looking forward to passionately rooting against him.
@ducky that’s a great point on bb players not working on certain muscle groups but i’d like to throw this in. imo (which can be wrong and is mostly conjecture) i think players over work in the offseason and don’t really rest, i feel after your season is over you take a month or 2 off and just do light workouts to stay in shape. athletes are just like cars you can run the pi$$ out of them but do it to long it’s gonna blow. i just think athletes are redlining themselves in the offseason when really they just need to chill crack open a few man sodas and enjoy there fams.
That could be part of it for sure, @brodie.
Stanton gets his picture taken bench pressing super models. Not working on becoming more flexible.
I’m not smart enough to figure this all out. Ya know? I’m just a dude who builds stuff. It just seems – for some reason – that injuries are way up from when I was a kid.
It seemed like every team had a guy or two that would play all 162. I remember Yankee squads where the starting 9 all played ~ 150 games.
This isn’t even some kind of Ripken thing. It was just regular players, man. For some reason, all this training, nutrition, biomechanics, load management, etc hasn’t helped.
In fact, seems like it’s done the opposite.
The great starting pitching depth nobody believes in except the select few Jays fans buying the story will be on display early and often.
Might be good that Springer is out. Some of 9 will have their playing time affected when Springer returns. Make the most of it while you can.
Cheater.
Who would have thought that the Jays rotation was thin! Certainly not Ross Atkins.