Maple Leafs 2024 Trade Deadline Preview: Biggest needs, targets, chips
While coy about ranking positions of need, the Maple Leafs could absolutely benefit from a legitimate top-four defenceman, preferably another righty, who can drive play. Luke Fox takes a look at what Toronto might be working on ahead of the trade deadline.
BRADENTON, Fla. — The biggest question facing the Toronto Blue Jays right now: will the shoulder issues slowing the progress of Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah impact the team’s start to the season?
One way or another, we won’t have to wait long for an answer. The more time passes without significant progress, the harder it’s going to be to ramp up in time for the season opener in a little over three weeks’ time.
For now, the Blue Jays are taking it day by day with both right-handers, each of whom has been a Cy Young Award finalist in the last two seasons. Manoah “felt good” after playing catch Monday and was on track to do so again Tuesday, according to manager John Schneider. Gausman’s Tuesday morning catch session went well, too.
But throwing on flat ground is one thing, competing against big-league hitters is another. Here’s a closer look at the status of the team’s rotation plus some trade interest in a bench candidate and a prediction about a division rival:
ROTATION DISRUPTION?
Here’s an optimistic reading of the Blue Jays’ current rotation questions, courtesy of their manager:
“If they hadn’t really started (ramping up), you could say it’s disruptive,” Schneider said. “I think now it’s more just seeing how you feel every single day and going from there. Luckily right now, it’s not a full-blown re-ramp up. Whenever you get off-schedule, it’s a pain in the ass a bit for them, for Pete (Walker, the pitching coach), for all of us. But, hopefully, it’s not (a major issue). We’re just taking it day by day.”
Thankfully for the Blue Jays, there’s no structural damage in either case. But there’s no denying time is working against them. Let’s say Gausman gets off a mound Sunday and stays on turn from there. He could still build up to four innings and perhaps 65-70 pitches by the end of spring training, but having him ready to cover five-plus innings on opening day would be a real stretch.
Typically, that opening day honour would go to Gausman after a season in which he placed third in Cy Young voting, but Schneider conceded the Blue Jays may have to get creative. That could mean opening with Gausman at the back of the rotation, even in a favourable scenario.
“There’s a lot of options,” Schneider said. “And again, there’s no injury there. It’s just based on how he’s feeling … but, yeah, there’s definitely a lot of different options on the table.”
If Jose Berrios stays on his current schedule, it would be pretty easy to line him up for opening day, March 28, against the Rays. He looked sharp while pitching three scoreless innings against the Pirates Tuesday, mixing in his newest pitch, a cutter, while topping out at 95.3 mph with his fastball.
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WHITE’S PROGRESS WORTH MONITORING
Bowden Francis is likely sixth on the Blue Jays’ starting pitching depth chart, but after that, Mitch White may be next in line. He followed Berrios on the mound in Bradenton Tuesday, pitching three innings of one-run ball while allowing one hit and two walks and touching 98 mph on the radar gun.
Before the game, Schneider said he wanted to see White “carry the zone” with his breaking stuff; challenge hitters, in other words. Despite the two walks he issued Tuesday, White was able to work efficiently, pitching three innings on just 38 pitches.
By the time spring ends, he plans to build up to five innings so he’s ready to contribute in whatever capacity’s needed.
“From the beginning, the plan was to be ready to be a starter regardless of how things are going, and we’ll see what happens,” White said. “Hopefully, those guys are all good and that doesn’t make a difference, but if it happens, then I’ll be ready.”
INFIELDER ON THE BUBBLE
Speaking of out-of-options players, don’t rule Ernie Clement out for the opening day roster. Knowing he can’t be optioned to the minors anymore, rival teams have been eyeing him and some pro scouts are impressed what they see. But then, so are the Blue Jays.
“They like him,” a scout from another team said. “He doesn’t hit for power, but he runs and he’ll put the ball in play. I think they’ll keep him just in case something happens to Bo (Bichette) but I’ll put him down as someone to go after if they try to pass him through (waivers).”
Clement is competing for a bench spot on the Blue Jays alongside the likes of Daniel Vogelbach, Spencer Horwitz, Eduardo Escobar and Davis Schneider.
RED SOX A TEAM TO WATCH
News of Lucas Giolito’s elbow injury did nothing to slow the speculation that Boston will soon spend on a starting pitcher. Both Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain available in free agency, and one rival executive predicted Tuesday that Montgomery would end up signing in Boston.
In the meantime, Boston’s rotation is perhaps the weakest in the American League East, consisting of Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock.
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