Could Marcus Stroman be on his way back to Toronto?

Marcus Stroman is still sitting on the free agent market, and the Blue Jays could use his arm.

Toronto's rotation has been decimated by injuries all season, cycling through bullpen games and reshuffled starters just to fill out a schedule.

Jose Berrios, Bowden Francis, Patrick Corbin, Trey Yesavage, and now Shane Bieber have all missed real time from that group at various points.

A veteran arm still available on the open market, even one who won't come cheap in workload expectations, is worth a real conversation for a team this thin.

Stroman knows this organization well from his years coming up through Toronto's system and pitching in the rotation.

That history alone doesn't guarantee a smooth fit, though. He's carried a reputation for clubhouse friction and outspoken commentary at points in his career, the kind of baggage a front office has to weigh carefully.

Adding a personality like that to a team fighting for a playoff spot down the stretch is not without real downside.

Why the risk might still be worth taking right now

Toronto sits right on the edge of the wild-card race, and every additional healthy arm changes the math on what's possible over the final weeks.

A short-term deal would limit the financial exposure if things don't work out, while still giving the rotation a body capable of eating innings immediately.

The Blue Jays have leaned on unproven and returning arms for weeks now, exactly the kind of stretch where a reliable veteran presence matters most.

Stroman's track record includes real success, even if his most recent stops haven't always gone smoothly.

Reputation concerns are legitimate, but so is the reality of a rotation that's had to bullpen-game its way through much of September.

Whether Toronto's front office decides the upside outweighs the risk is the real question, and it likely comes down to exactly how the price and role get structured.

For a team with almost nothing left to lose in the standings, a short-term flier like this carries less risk than it would earlier in the season.