Team Strength 2022 vs 2023

[jaysblue]

I'm fairly worried about the starting pitching depth.

 

If one of the Top 4 gets hurt then we'll have 40% of our games being started by Mitch White and Kikuchi.

 

In a perfect world, would have been nice to sign Kluber or Cueto to a one-year deal but oh well.

 

Still, Jays SP depth I think is fine. Sure if we're talking about a season ending injury to one of their top arms, then different story. They can hold the fort down if a starter has to miss 2-3 turns.

 

I think White for 20 starts wouldn't hurt or Thompson for 10-12 starts would be fine. Plus some of the young guys the Jays have who could come up.

[Terminator]

Hmmm. Interesting take.

 

I actually love the Jays SP depth this season.

 

You LOVE it?

 

You love Kikuchi as the #5?

 

Mitch White at #6?

 

The other 40 man options are Zululeta (he's got about 50 professional innings under his belt and his stats don't really paint the picture of someone ready to be in an MLB rotation), Thompson (got rocked last year), Pearson (can't stay healthy) and Thomas Hatch (suxxx).

 

Given the offense, defense, bullpen and the 1-4 it should be good enough to get us through the season but I wouldn't say it's anything special.

[Terminator]

In a perfect world, would have been nice to sign Kluber or Cueto to a one-year deal but oh well.

 

Still, Jays SP depth I think is fine. Sure if we're talking about a season ending injury to one of their top arms, then different story. They can hold the fort down if a starter has to miss 2-3 turns.

 

I think White for 20 starts wouldn't hurt or Thompson for 10-12 starts would be fine. Plus some of the young guys the Jays have who could come up.

 

I get why they didn't sign Cueto or Kluber. First, I'm not sure how big of an improvement they actually were.

 

Second, Kikuchi and White are complicated. White is out of options and I know people often assume that Kikuchi is willing to go to AAA bc he offered to go last year but I wouldn't count on hm being willing to start Opening Day in Buffalo this year. It's one thing to escape the pressure when you can't get the ball over the plate in July, it's another thing to forego the fresh start of a new season.

 

The team has little depth as it is so losing Kikuchi or White doesn't make sense. Could the team really enter the year with both in the bullpen? Perhaps, but I think it would have negative implications for their SP depth anyway as I'm not sure both guys would be kept stretched out enough if they are both in the pen.

 

So yeah, I get why they did what they did. But it still doesn't mean I love the rotation depth. I doubt the team is that thrilled with it either but is willing to ride it out for now.

[Eat My Shatkins]

You LOVE it?

 

You love Kikuchi as the #5?

 

Mitch White at #6?

 

The other 40 man options are Zululeta (he's got about 50 professional innings under his belt and his stats don't really paint the picture of someone ready to be in an MLB rotation), Thompson (got rocked last year), Pearson (can't stay healthy) and Thomas Hatch (suxxx).

 

Given the offense, defense, bullpen and the 1-4 it should be good enough to get us through the season but I wouldn't say it's anything special.

 

Yes I'm pretty happy with it. I was hoping they'd nab Cueto (1.1 fWAR projection) but Kikuchi is projected for 0.7 fWAR and has great stuff, I don't see a problem with him as the #5.

 

White is projected for 0.5 fWAR himself.

 

I'm no expert on other teams rotations around the league, but I doubt too many have their 6th SP projecting that well.

 

As for the depth after that, Thompson, Hutchison are certainly solid depth guys and then you high upside lottery tickets like Juenger, Zulueta and Tiedemann all with MLB caliber stuff. Guys like Lawrence and Hatch (who had to pitch for the Jays last season a bit) have been pushed all the way down to at least 9th or 10th on the depth chart it looks like.

 

Not to mention Ryu is hanging around as a wild card mid season acquisition.

 

Not sure how better we reasonably expect it to be. Nobody has 7 or 8 proven MLB caliber starting pitchers at their disposal, that I know of.

[Jimcanuck]

In a typical year, a team uses 10 different starting pitchers. So it is likely as of now we see Thompson, Hutchison, Lawrence, and Hatch starting games at some point. 3 of these guys suck giant balls. So, with the rest of the team in great shape, for adding to projected WAR, SP depth has to be the current priority before the season starts.

 

Injuries happen to both MLB guys and your depth guys during the season.

 

As I said, I expect the Jays to add more, and better, SP depth. During ST, guys do become available and trades are made.

 

It really sucks we couldn't retain Chicken Strip.

[Spanky99]

I get why they didn't sign Cueto or Kluber. First, I'm not sure how big of an improvement they actually were.

 

Second, Kikuchi and White are complicated. White is out of options and I know people often assume that Kikuchi is willing to go to AAA bc he offered to go last year but I wouldn't count on hm being willing to start Opening Day in Buffalo this year. It's one thing to escape the pressure when you can't get the ball over the plate in July, it's another thing to forego the fresh start of a new season.

 

The team has little depth as it is so losing Kikuchi or White doesn't make sense. Could the team really enter the year with both in the bullpen? Perhaps, but I think it would have negative implications for their SP depth anyway as I'm not sure both guys would be kept stretched out enough if they are both in the pen.

 

So yeah, I get why they did what they did. But it still doesn't mean I love the rotation depth. I doubt the team is that thrilled with it either but is willing to ride it out for now.

 

For the record, Kooch has options.

[Jimcanuck]

Keep in mind, the Jays were relatively lucky with pitcher health in 2022. It was an atypical year in that respect.

[Laika]

In terms of depth you need to just look at other good teams around the league. It's clear that Toronto is average.

 

A team like MIN has way better depth. But a team like SDP does not, really.

 

Toronto's top 4 SP project for probably the most innings of any top 4 in baseball though, right?

[Terminator]

For the record, Kooch has options.

 

I don't think Japanese players work like that do they?

[Stangstag]

I don't think Japanese players work like that do they?

 

Nope Kikuchi does not have options. He’d have to accept an assignment to the minors, he was willing to last year.

[Jaysareus]

Vladdys slow

[Jaysareus]

Gracias hitting 100 mph

[Spanky99]

So a dude I have on the Iggy bumped this, just cut loose fellas.