The Blue Jays are heading into another busy offseason, and if Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley is right, one of their bigger moves could come in the rotation.
Buckley is predicting Toronto will sign Baltimore Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers to a four-year contract, with “nine figures could be a realistic target” for the deal.
That would give the Blue Jays a left-handed starter in a rotation that currently skews right-handed. Toronto already has Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage and Jose Soriano in the mix, with Buckley describing Yesavage as a good No. 2 or No. 3 alongside Soriano. Cody Ponce is also expected back next year after an early season-ending injury this season, while Bowden Francis and Jose Berrios offer additional depth.
So the question isn’t whether Toronto can get by without another starter. On paper, it can. The bigger issue is whether the Blue Jays want to build something more balanced and higher-upside.
Rogers fits that idea because his profile comes with both upside and volatility. This season, he posted a 4.03 ERA with a 10-11 record and 2.2 bWAR in 30 starts for Baltimore. A year ago, though, he was coming off a much louder run: a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts with a 9-3 record and 5.3 bWAR.
That kind of range makes him a high-variance arm, but it also explains why he would draw real interest. For a Toronto club already sitting on a strong rotation core, a lefty with Rogers’ ceiling would be a logical add if the Blue Jays decide to make a splash.
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Trevor Rogers Just Made The Orioles Offseason Decision More Complicated
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Rogers is headed for free agency, and while he has said he would like to return, he also knows the future is unsettled. For an Orioles club trying to sort through its rotation picture, that leaves an interesting decision on the table, especially after a run like this one suggests there may be more value here than a simple short-term look. [Read more 🡒]