John Schneider cutting Angel Bastardo, Yariel Rodriguez, and Jorge Alcala stings, but it guarantees the Blue Jays will deploy a ruthless pitching staff.
Making tough cuts right before Opening Day is easily the hardest part of the job for any manager.
But this incredible level of internal competition is exactly what builds a championship-caliber team that can survive a long summer.
The 23-year-old Angel Bastardo (Drafted Rule 5, 2024 by Blue Jays) showed undeniable flashes of absolute electricity on the mound during this camp.
Arden Zwelling just dropped the massive roster update on social media confirming that Bastardo will either be traded or returned to the Boston Red Sox.
Rule 5 pick Angel Bastardo has been informed he won't begin the season with the Blue Jays; club can either return him to the Red Sox or work out a trade
Yariel Rodriguez and Jorge Alcala also won't begin the season in the majors
-
He brings a nasty fastball to the table, but he just needs consistent minor-league innings to refine his command after returning from Tommy John surgery.
Then you have the highly complex situation surrounding the 29-year-old Cuban fireballer Yariel Rodriguez.
He posted a brilliant 3.08 ERA across 73.0 innings last season, so seeing him sent down right now is definitely a shock to the system for many loyal fans.
The front office is building a powerhouse pitching staff
We are all incredibly lucky to have this kind of ridiculous pitching depth waiting in the wings for when things get difficult.
Fans have to love the sheer accountability on display from the management team, giving us immense hope for a genuinely shutdown bullpen.
Jorge Alcala is another talented casualty of this intense roster crunch happening in Dunedin right now.
The 30-year-old veteran reliever recorded a solid 61 strikeouts over 55.0 innings last year in the majors.
He throws pure gas late in games, but he just needs to find that consistent release point down in Buffalo first to regain his elite form.
Sending these highly capable arms to the minors gives Toronto the ultimate safety net for a grueling baseball marathon.
The moment an inevitable injury happens to the starting rotation, we know exactly who is ready to step up and dominate on the big stage.
This entire pitching staff is going to be an absolute buzzsaw from the very first pitch of the year.
Opening Day is right around the corner and the energy surrounding this talented squad is completely off the charts.
Do you trust the depth of the Blue Jays pitching staff to carry them through the season?
Also read on Blue Jays Insider :
The San Francisco Giants sign former Toronto Blue Jays to unexpected deal
