The Toronto Blue Jays added the beginning rotation arm they have been in search of all winter lengthy final evening, inking veteran hurler Max Scherzer to a one-year deal. With Scherzer becoming a member of the roster, there’ll now be one much less spot within the rotation up for grabs, which possible means right-hander Yariel Rodríguez will likely be transferring to the bullpen given his contract clause of staying within the Main Leagues barring approval.
Assuming Rodríguez joins the aid corps, ought to the Jays carry a 5 SP/eight RP cut up, there will likely be only one spot up for grabs heading into Opening Day. The remaining spots will likely be for newly acquired arms Jeff Hoffman, Nick Sandlon, and Yimi Garcia, in addition to returning pitchers Erik Swanson, Chad Inexperienced, and Brendon Little, with Little being the one southpaw of the group. There’s the potential that isn’t set in stone – Little might be switched out for somebody like Tommy Nance, Ryan Burr, Michael Petersen, or Josh Walker (a fellow left-hander), however with the one spot open for grabs already, Little appears to be a bit extra of a lock in comparison with the counterparts talked about.
With all this in thoughts, the Jays nonetheless have work to be achieved this offseason. Signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to an extension is a prime precedence in addition to probably including one other energy bat, with Toronto tied to fellow Scott Boras consumer Pete Alonso over the previous couple of weeks. On prime of those two notions, including one other left-handed reliever can be a profit for the Jays, particularly because the depth of southpaws behind Little and Walker is proscribed, particularly after the latest departure of Brandon Eisert.
Listed here are three free-agent left-handed relievers the Blue Jays ought to take into account with Spring Coaching proper across the nook.
Andrew Chafin
With the Texas Rangers declining his $6.5 million membership choice, left-hander Andrew Chafin heads to free company this winter on the lookout for a brand new alternative. Splitting time between the Detroit Tigers and the Rangers final season, Chafin posted a 3.51 ERA and a 1.473 WHIP by way of 62 outings, gathering one save whereas amassing an 11.2 Ok/9. Starting the yr in Detroit, he fared significantly better within the AL Central (3.16 ERA and a 2.54 FIP) in comparison with his time in Texas, the place he allowed 9 earned runs by way of 19 1/3 innings, seeing his ERA climb to 4.19 and his FIP hit 5.44, principally as a result of he couldn’t hold his command in verify (7.0 BB/9).
An 11-year veteran of the sport, Chafin has spent most of his profession with the Arizona Diamondbacks and has suited up for six completely different organizations through the years. He boasts a 3.42 ERA by way of 601 outings and 508 1/3 innings and has amassed a 125 ERA+ throughout his huge league tenure. Since 2015, when Chafin established himself as an enormous league reliever with the Dbacks, he ranks seventh amongst left-handed relievers together with his 7.1 fWAR and sits seventeenth together with his 3.28 FIP.
Tigers pitcher Andrew Chafin pulled as much as Detroit in the present day in a "Failed Starter" hoodie 😭 pic.twitter.com/qEBWgJwhkp
— MLB (@MLB) April 5, 2024
At 35 years outdated, Chafin nonetheless has some gasoline left within the tank, and the Ohio product, dubbed ‘The Sherriff’, would carry some veteran expertise to the bullpen whereas including one other southpaw to the aid corps. Boasting a strong observe file of staying wholesome, Chafin is projected to earn $4.5 million through Spotrac’s market worth.
Danny Coulombe
One other veteran southpaw on the free agent market this winter, Missouri product Danny Coulombe is not any stranger to Toronto Blue Jays followers. Coloumbe has spent the previous two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, the place he has crafted a 2.56 ERA by way of 94 appearances and 81 innings. Earlier than becoming a member of the Orioles, Coulombe cut up his time between the Athletics, Twins, and Dodgers and owns a 3.52 ERA and a 3.67 FIP by way of 288 outings courting again to 2014.
Coulombe does carry some damage danger, as he missed time with a number of hip accidents, bicep tendonitis, and elbow surgical procedure final yr, the place bone spurs have been faraway from his elbow, limiting him to simply 29 2/3 innings. When wholesome, Coloumbe has confirmed he may be an efficient member of a big-league bullpen however it did take a while for the left-hander to determine issues out.
With Spotrac predicting a $1.2 million market worth for the 35-year-old, Coulombe is an choice for the Jays on a short-term deal that might present some further depth to mix with Little on the roster. There’s some damage danger related to Coulombe however for the fitting value level, probably even on a MiLB deal, taking a bet on Coulombe is sensible for the Blue Jays.
The marketplace for free-agent LHP Danny Coulombe has “picked up”, per @ByRobertMurray pic.twitter.com/RLlAsweZvr
— MLB Deadline Information (@MLBDeadlineNews) January 30, 2025
Scott Alexander
A sixth-round choose of the Kansas Metropolis Royals in 2010, left-hander Scott Alexander has crafted a decent profession out of the bullpen for 4 completely different organizations since 2015. Boasting a 3.20 ERA by way of 328 outings, Alexander has been an efficient choice when wholesome, posting a 1.290 WHIP and a 3.68 FIP throughout 309 1/3 innings.
The issue for Alexander is staying wholesome, as he has hit the IL on 9 separate events since making his debut in 2015 and has missed appreciable time with shoulder irritation on two events. The trajectory is on the optimistic facet, as he has 55 and 45 outings underneath his belt the previous two seasons respectively, however from 2019 to 2022, he struggled to remain on the sector, with every season being underneath 20 innings.
Final season with the Athletics, Alexander missed time with tendonitis in his rotator cuff and a rib contusion early within the season however nonetheless made 45 appearances on the season and posted a 2.56 ERA and a 1.190 WHIP by way of 38 2/3 innings. The California product is the simplest towards left-hander batters, holding the identical facet to a .564 OPS and a .211 common throughout 470 at-bats whereas seeing an uptick towards RHB to the tune of a .275/.352/.384 slash line and a .736 OPS.
Ought to the Jays be on the lookout for a left-hander with some damage danger however on the cheaper facet (Spotrac worth at $2.5 million), Scott Alexander ticks off a variety of containers.
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