[Griever20]

Your 2016 Toronto Blue Jays:

Starting Pitching

RHSP Henderson Alvarez III(25, 2.5*) 17-9 3.69 107K 33GS 195IP 2.0WAR // 50-48 3.80 437K 140GS 843.1IP 9.1WAR (career)
And again and again, he will be called upon to hold the fort in our rotation and eat a lot of innings. Having him around for the last four years, we know that we will get a high 3’s ERA, 190-200 innings and some bullcrap in the clubhouse that we will have to manage, and all that for $5.7M.

RHSP Chris Archer(27, 2.5/3*) 11-5 3.55 186K 33GS 176.2IP 3.2WAR // 29-27 3.77 521K 96GS 529.1IP 7.7WAR (career)
It is quite clear by now that what you see is what you get. And that is a mixed bag according to our scouts as he managed to strech himself out a bit more and get the stamina up… but dropped a mile on his heater while doing so. Archer still has our trust and is only in year one of arbitration, but the arrow is pointing downwards. Acquired from TBR in 2012.

LHSP Jeremy Komosinski(24, 3/4*) 16-8 2.68 132K 168IP 29GS 3.4WAR // 16-8 2.68 132K 168IP 29GS 3.4WAR (career)
Jeremy made an entrance last season with an All-Star Nomination and there is little left for him to do… except developing his third pitch, the splitter. This season will be crucial in order to reach his ceiling of a 70 slider, 80 sinker and 80 splitter pitcher with killer movement and decent control. Also, we love his makeup and the groundballs. 3rd overall pick in the 2013 draft.

RHSP Marcus Stroman(23, 3*) 12-10 3.18 180K 33GS 192.1IP 4.4WAR // 44-39 3.39 643K 127GS 730.1IP 10.8WAR (career)
Our extreme groundballer added to his own cause by winning a Gold Glove last season. Only 5’7’’, he throws a dominant changeup with five other good pitches and is pretty much what he is… which is an above average pitcher that is locked up until the end of 2020 with two team options for 2021 and 2022.

RHSP Noah Syndergaard(23, 2.5/4.5*) 15-6 3.59 162K 170.2IP 31GS 3.2WAR // 15-6 3.59 162K 170.2IP 31GS 3.2WAR (career)
Having not one, but two rookie pitchers making the All-Star game was stunning, and so was Syndergaard. He arrived with force and solid underlying numbers while utilizing our defense, and there is still room for growth with his movement, control and some of his pitches. The big question is, as usual in this segment… can he reach his potential, or does the ceiling drop like with Komosinski.

Relief Pitching:

RHRP Mike Bishop(25, 2.5/3.5*) 3-2 1SV 2.93 74K 73.2IP 61G 0.2WAR // 3-2 1SV 2.93 74K 73.2IP 61G 0.2WAR (career)
Coming in as a player with fringe control, his 3.3 BB/9 was an improvement over his minor league numbers and we hope he can continue where he left off. His biggest strength is his 85/85 rated fastball that can reach 99 with a curveball. 11th rounder in 2013.

RHRP Kevin Buchanan(23, 4.5*) 6-4 3 3SV 2.95 52K 61IP 68G 0.5WAR // 6-4 3 3SV 2.95 52K 61IP 68G 0.5WAR (career)
The kid really made another jump in this offseason with improved control and given that he does not only generate groundballs, but has potential strikeout stuff… our new closer. A groundballer with a 80 rated, 94-96mph heater and a strong slider, we hope he can make the next step. 10th rounder in 2012.

RHRP Carlos Bustamente(21, 2.5 *) 2-0 2.61 11K 10.1IP 6G 0.4WAR (AA) // DNP (Career)
The flyball pitcher really impressed last season by moving from short A to AA in a hurry and was described as the best option we have to replace Soria with everyone moving up. A fastball changeup pitcher with max effort, Bustamente tends to not know where the pitches go… but sometimes he hits the strikezone and that was enough.

LHRP Mike Cosens(25, 3.5*) 1-3 1SV 5.47 62K 51IP 59G -0.2WAR // 2-3 1SV 5.16 69K 59.1IP 72G -0.1WAR (career)
Last year, we thought that Cosens’ main weakness would be him being fragile. The lefty instead struggled with home runs and walks… not a good combination. Yet, he is a 97-99mph 85 rated fastball merchant with a good secondary pitch in a slider and good minor league numbers. Second chance for him. 5th rounder in 2012.

RHRP James C. Eaton(22, 4.5*) 5-0 2SV 3.69 63K 85.1IP 66G 1.0WAR // 5-0 2SV 3.69 63K 85.1IP 66G 1.0WAR (career)
Eaton is a rare control pitcher out of the pen, throwing a 91-93mph cutter and a way better slider with pinpoint control and wicked movement. Our scouts love his intangibles and think that he can be very effective in the pen, but lacks the swing and miss to become a closer. His first year was good, but we are looking for more. 11th rounder 2012.

LHRP Danny Foxhoven(25, 2.5*) 2-1 0SV 2.79 43K 61.1IP 46G 0.6WAR // 2-1 0SV 2.79 43K 61.1IP 46G 0.6WAR (career)
The 25-year old is very similar to Eaton, control, control and control while throwing with a weird sidearm delivery around 90mph. Used as a low leverage lefty last year that went multiple innings a lot, he beat out Cosens for the best lefty in our pen. 22nd rounder in 2012.

RHRP Roberto Osuna(21, 2.5/4*) 2-7 18SV 4.28 48K 48.1IP 41G (AAA) // DNP (career)
The Mexican has been growing through our minor league system and it is his time to shine. The stuff with a wide assortment of pitches is stunning as he can select from a fastball, a slider, a changeup, a sinker and a cutter. The cutter needs work, and so the delivery when it comes to control and movement. He will be more of a middle reliever with no expectations, but upside.

RHRP Joe Szczygiel(25, 3*) 3-1 3SV 1.92 60K 56.1IP 71G 0.8WAR // 5-5 4SV 3.26 97K 88.1IP 112G 0.2WAR (career)
After an abysmal 2014, the righty really came through last year, lowering his BB/9 down to an ‘acceptable” 3.7 while going for less strikeouts and more soft contact… and he was dominant. Control remains an issue, but if he can keep the magic going, he may not become a slam dunk…but a good dunk. 2013 2nd rounder.

Catcher

C Eric Fountaine(24, 2/2.5*, R) .212/.257/.333 2HR 16RBI 38G/26GS 0.1WAR // .203/.247/.290 2HR 20RBI 28H 11R 52G -0.1WAR (career)
All we wanted was to bring up a good defensive catcher, and we found one in Fountaine. The right-handed hitter can handle the pitching staff… but hitting is an issue. 16th rounder in 2012.

C Devin Mesoraco(27, 4*, R) .327/.392/.598 24HR 122RBI 120G 8.8WAR // .280/.349/.510 107HR 350RBI 565H 312R 550G 21.9WAR (career)
Mesoraco has had a career year in 2015 and was rewarded with an MvP Award. The 3x All-Star is blessed with a 70 rated power bat with good contract and may be the star catcher of this team and league for years to come. Acquired from CIN in 2012 offseason, signed until the end of 2020.

Infield

1B Adam Brzezinski(26, 2.5*, L) .230/.310/.397 18HR 74RBI 158G/156GS 1.2WAR // .226/.310/.397 46HR 168RBI 285H 172R 367G 2.5WAR (career)
Brzezinski won a Gold Glove… good for him. He also led the AL in strikeouts, which is not a good thing as a hitter and therefore… he is the new Eric Thames. Backup first baseman and lefty pinch-hitter. That’s all he got unless the guy below gets injured. 3rd rounder in 2012 draft.

1B Joe Sokolow(23, 3/4.5*, L) .328/.421/.524 21HR 97RBI 139G/137GS 5.2WAR (AA) // DNP (career) #68 prospect
Coming off a great AA season and an even better offseason regimen, Sololow got the job by not being Brzezinski and having good control. His ceiling should be a lot of walks and good contract, but he won’t be a 40 home run guy… we have other players for that. This is taking a small risk with a huge payoff if the development path continues at the same pace. 7th rounder in 2013.

2B/UT Brad Finkbeiner(25, 2.5*, R) .315/.385/.478 18HR 86RBI 133G/127GS 2.5WAR (AAA) // DNP (career)
Finkbeiner was strong in AAA last year and is a solid 60/50/50 defender at 2B/3B/SS that will be a great backup, replacing Escobar today and potentially for the next years if he does not fudge it up. 13th rounder in 2012.

2B Adeiny Hechavarria(25, 2*, R) .297/.322/.378 3HR 52RBI 8/15SB 151G/150GS 2.5WAR // .281/.304/.365 14HR 150RBI 460H 188R 521G 4.8WAR (career)
Hechavarria will get the starting gig based on solid defense and based on a year with the bat for his standards in 2015. Giving his trend, 2016 is going to be a stinker and 2017 is great… but to be honest, I trust this guy and he always has done a solid job, so until a real strong prospect comes up, he is save.

3B Anthony Rendon(25, 3*, R) .305/.373/.573 35HR 113RBI 153G/149GS 24/28SB 8.5WAR // .293/.369/.527 80HR 276RBI 518H 314R 468G 78SB 20.8WAR (career)
Talking about a MvP like season… Rendon had one in 2014 and a stronger one in 2015, just that guy behind was a tad bit better… Yet, there were some clouds on the horitzon as the scouting department thinks he lost some of his pulling power, but regardless of that, he is a 2x All-Star and a 2x Silver Slugger Award to complement his 2013 Rookie of the Year Award. Acquired via trade from WSH in 2012.

3B/DH Eugenio Suárez(24, 4*) .286/.374/.559 42HR 119RBI 162GS 26/32SB 5.6WAR // .269/.358/.532 84HR 208RBI 343H 246R 324GS 56/79SB 7.7WAR (career)
Suárez has not missed a game in the last two years, being an elite 70 rated power bat that can run and steal a base. He will once again bat third and we can’t wait to see the 2x All-Star and 2x Silver Slugger for another year. His hitting has evolved in 2015 from home run hitter to a more well-rounded bat and despite him being a lazy ****er, all we need him is to hit. Acquired from DET in 2012.

SS Jim Hatfield(24, 4*, S) .306/.380/.519 27HR 101RBI 154G 8.2WAR // .306/.380/.519 27HR 101RBI 189H 116R 154G 8.2WAR (career)
Coming in with some promise, Hatfield was sensational last season in his rookie season and collected the close to the whole package, Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger and All-Star. And to make things worse for the opponents… he is now a genuine 70 rated shortstop with 70/70/75/60 defensive ratings in the infield. Add a 60/70/65/50/55 bat with 80 gap power potential… he is around to stay. 2012 1st rounder.

Outfield

LF/RF Jesse Winker(22, 2.5/3.5*, L) .291/.386/.486 19HR 85RBI 138G 2.5WAR (AAA) // DNP (career) #85 prospect
Yep. Avsail Garcia won a Gold Glove and got rewarded with a job in AAA. Sorry bud. Winker may not be much better right now, but has some potential in the long run. That his development lab work wasn’t a success is sad, but the package should be good enough to perform at the back end of our lineup. The way from 50 current to 70 potential contact is the key. Acquired from CIN in 2012.

LF/RF Nick Castellanos(24, 3.5*, R) .330 /.378/.569 30HR 113RBI 156G 7/15SB 4.8WAR // .303/.354/.509 50HR 188RBI 349H 159R 297G 21/34SB 5.3WAR (career)
We hoped for Castellanos to bounce back from a weaker rookie season, and he did just that, winning the AL Batting Crown while holding his own in the field and winning the AL Silver Slugger in left and netting an All-Star nomination. His contact bat is elite, and we hope for more. Acquired from DET in 2012.

CF Jake Marisnick(25, 2.5*, R) .208/.281/.356 18HR 57RBI 12/18SB 151G 3.1WAR // .211/.267/.341 54HR 210RBI 410H 215R 82/105SB 606G 10.7WAR (career)
A 3x Gold Glover at center field that is putting up 2.5+WAR seasons for fun. Yes, the hitting isn’t great but he added 18 points of OBP compared to his first three years. I just want more of it, more defense, and more Gold Gloves.

OF Kevin Kiermaier(25, 2.5*, L) .231/.290/.415 4HR 19RBI 2/3SB 74G/34GS 0.9WAR // .224/.279/.342 13HR 85RBI 159H 81R 26/37SB 282G 1.2WAR (career)
Kiermaier is a great defender and solid right-handed hitter, and MAYBE can be a bit better than Marisnick as an overall player… but I just don’t trust him after his -0.9WAR first year. Acquired via trade from TBR in 2012.