Shane Bieber is getting close, and John Schneider's next pitching decision may be one of the Blue Jays' hardest yet.
Jays Journal framed the problem clearly: Toronto suddenly has more usable arms than roster spots, and there is no easy pitcher to cut when Bieber is ready.
That is a very different problem from the one this club had earlier in the season. For weeks, the Blue Jays were just trying to scrape together enough healthy starters to survive the schedule.
Now Bieber is pushing toward the door again. MLB's injury update says he threw 5 scoreless innings in his fourth rehab start on June 11 for Triple-A Buffalo and is expected to make at least 1 more before potentially returning.
That timeline is what makes the roster squeeze real. This is no longer some abstract July problem. It is coming fast, and Schneider is going to have to decide which pitcher loses a job for a former Cy Young winner.
Simeon Woods Richardson is the name that jumps out first. He has no minor-league options left, and Jays Journal noted that if Toronto chooses him as the odd man out, it would need to designate him for assignment.
That would be a tough sell after what he just did in his Blue Jays debut. The right-hander gave Toronto 4 scoreless innings against Philadelphia, which bought him more than a passing glance in this conversation.
Toronto's easiest answer may not be its best one
Patrick Corbin is the other obvious candidate. Jays Journal argued he may be more expendable than Max Scherzer, especially because Corbin has come back down after an early steady run and profiles more cleanly as a starter than a flexible long man.
Scherzer is the real wild card, but Schneider already sounded reluctant to overreact after his rough return. He said he wants to avoid “knee-jerk reactions” and give Scherzer the benefit of consistent work.
That quote matters because it tells you Toronto is not eager to make a move involving the veteran, even if the results have been ugly. Hall-of-Fame stature still carries weight in a clubhouse and in a front office. That makes Corbin or Woods Richardson feel more vulnerable.
There is also a Rule 5 factor in the room. Jays Journal pointed out Spencer Miles' status and strong results make him much harder to cut, especially for a pitching staff that still values multi-inning coverage.
So the Blue Jays may be down to an uncomfortable baseball truth. When Bieber comes back, the pitcher contributing the least has to go, even if the name is awkward and the timing is worse.
That is what makes Bieber's return bigger than an injury update. It should strengthen Toronto's staff, but it also forces Schneider to choose which arm gets squeezed out just when the pitching picture is finally starting to look whole.
Should the Blue Jays keep Simeon Woods Richardson when Shane Bieber returns?
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