When the Blue Jays completed eight trades at this year’s deadline, adding left hander Ryan Yarbrough barely registered. The focus of the headlines, articles, and summaries of general manager Ross Atkins’ activity was on the 13 prospects aimed at bolstering a struggling minor league system. Yarbrough, a 32-year-old recently designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers and due to become a free agent in about three months, received little attention. Unlike the prospects, Toronto was just a temporary stop for him.
Fast forward four weeks, and Yarbrough has proven to be a significant asset. He has offered the Jays a versatile arm capable of delivering quality innings out of the bullpen for extended periods, addressing a notable gap in their roster.
Yarbrough demonstrated his value again on Monday by pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox, contributing to a 4-1 victory at Fenway Park in a continuation of a matchup from June 26. He allowed only two hits and struck out four.
Since being acquired in a trade for outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, Yarbrough has given up just four runs in 14 innings. He is currently on a scoreless streak of 10 1/3 innings and has provided enough flexibility for the Jays to adopt a six-starter rotation, giving their veteran pitchers more rest.
While long relievers typically don’t garner much attention, they play a crucial role by saving the team’s high-leverage arms for critical situations and offering additional protection if the rotation encounters issues. The Jays will need both these insurance policies if they aim to contend next season. Although they plan to add more pitchers over the winter, they currently lack reliable late-game options and need to conserve their existing ones for key moments. Additionally, their aging starting staff requires careful management.
Kevin Gausman will be 34 next season, Chris Bassitt will turn 36, and Jose Berrios will be 31 with over 1,400 career innings pitched. No. 4 starter Yariel Rodriguez shows potential but lacks certainty due to his limited experience. Bowden Francis, who narrowly missed a no-hitter on Saturday, remains an even greater unknown.
If the Jays choose to stick with this rotation, adding further depth will be difficult. Right-hander Jacob Bloss, acquired in the trade for Yusei Kikuchi, is one option, while Alek Manoah, currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, might be another if he returns to form.
Options are limited, and top free-agent starters are unlikely to join Toronto without a guaranteed spot. This situation leaves the Jays needing to pursue controllable starters with remaining options through trades or sift through minor-league free agents.
Both approaches carry risks. The Jays acquired Zach Thompson from the Pittsburgh Pirates last year with hopes he would add useful depth, but he failed to perform well enough in Triple-A Buffalo to earn a promotion. Similarly, veteran Paolo Espino, signed to a minor-league deal this season, has not been effective at either level.
One alternative is signing or trading for a reliable long reliever. The Jays previously acquired Ross Stripling from the Dodgers midway through the 2020 season for this role. Although Stripling made 16 bullpen appearances over three seasons, he was also needed for 45 starts, highlighting how quickly the team’s needs can evolve.
Ideally, the Jays would find a long reliever from within their organization. Opting for a younger player would save money and allow them to send him to the minors when a fresh arm is needed. Francis could potentially fill this role, but this would require the Jays to invest more in either additional funds or a proven starter.
If Francis remains in the rotation, another player will need to take on the long reliever role, and Yarbrough could be a strong candidate if he’s available at a reasonable cost. He has effectively served as a swingman and bulk starter for the Rays, Dodgers, and now the Jays.
Although adding a multi-inning reliever might not be a top priority for the Jays this offseason, it is still important. Yarbrough has demonstrated that this role is valuable, and the Jays would benefit from addressing it appropriately.
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