Is the Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen a finished product?
An offseason of several highly touted upgrades for the Blue Jays has only missed one obvious roster category: left-handed relief pitching. Of course, the Blue Jays could choose to roll with what they already have early in the season, but perhaps there’s still an opportunity to pick up an impressive southpaw via trade before opening day.
On Friday, ESPN’s David Schoenfield pitched St. Louis Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero as a trade fit for Toronto, and crafted a mock trade that would send Blue Jays utility man Davis Schneider back to St. Louis in a one-for-one swap.
“The Jays have lefties Eric Lauer and Brendon Little in the pen, but Lauer doubles as rotation insurance (and last year’s comeback may have been a fluke anyway),” wrote Schoenfield. “Little’s wobbly command imploded in the postseason and made him unusable by the end of the World Series.
“Romero would give Toronto a little more certainty from the left — and potentially two excellent lefties if Little finds the strike zone again.”
Romero, 29, is coming off a career year in which he posted a 2.07 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 61 innings. He also picked up eight of his 12 career saves. With just one year left before he hits free agency, it would make sense for the Cardinals to move him now after dealing away four All-Star contributors thus far this offseason.
Schneider’s fit for the Cardinals makes a lot of sense, as he’s cost-controlled, right-handed, and fits into a potential outfield platoon role. His flexibility to play second base would also help out as young infielders Thomas Saggese and JJ Wetherholt attempt to establish themselves as big-league regulars.
A lot of teams could use Romero, assuming the Cardinals are willing to move him now rather than waiting until the July trade deadline. But as Schoenfield suggests, the Blue Jays may have the right combination of need and championship aspirations to rise to the occasion.
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