On Friday, the Toronto Blue Jays released a number of injury reports, including ones pertaining to first baseman Joey Votto and pitcher Yariel Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, who inked a five-year contract this offseason, has already experienced back problems many times this year. Due to back problems, he began his spring training later than expected and has been on this list of injuries. Before getting hurt, he started four games with the Blue Jays, finishing 0-1 with a 4.11 ERA. In 15.1 innings, the 27-year-old has struck out 16 batters.
It’s unknown what role he’ll play with the Blue Jays upon his return, if all goes according to plan with his rehab assignment. The organization may choose to keep Rodriguez in Triple-A or employ him in extended relief now that Alek Manoah has taken Rodriguez’s spot in the rotation.
Regarding Votto, who sustained an ankle injury during spring training after signing with the Blue Jays, and hasn’t played in the league this season. They’ll continue to allow him to become fit enough to try, but there’s no guarantee he’ll play for Toronto because he only signed a minor league contract.
One of the biggest baseball stories of the year will be if the 40-year-old Votto is able to make the Jays team this season. The Toronto native played with the Cincinnati Reds for 17 years, but in a kind of lovely career irony, he is now wanting to rejoin his home team.
Votto has an on-base percentage of.409 and a lifetime batting average of.294. In terms of games played (2056), hits (2135), walks (1365), and intentional walks, he leads the group actively. A six-time All-Star and MVP, he topped the Major Leagues in on-base percentage three times.
Is the Toronto Blue Jays’ formal window of opportunity to compete closing?
The Blue Jays, who are currently bottom in the AL East and have experienced lineup regression, will soon have to accept the fact that they will be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
The Toronto Blue Jays seemed like they were on track to be baseball’s next great team not too long ago. They possessed skill, a solid blend of experienced and youthful players, potent starting pitchers, and a bullpen that could shut the door. And everyone thought it was their chance because Vladmir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette were a young team set to take the world by storm.
However, as baseball too often demonstrates, nobody has a right to anything. Additionally, one can never be certain of what will exist tomorrow.
The Blue Jays have fallen short so far in 2024 after making it to the postseason the previous two seasons and then been swept by the Mariners and Twins, respectively. Toronto is currently 19-23, worst in the AL East, and doesn’t appear to be able to maintain any sort of consistency.
Upon analyzing the Toronto situation, it is evident that there has been a noticeable decline in performance across the board. The strange circumstance surrounding Alek Manoah’s 180-degree turn in the rotation—from Cy Young finalist to afterthought—has not yet been explained. Even with impressive starts from José Berríos and Yusei Kikuchi this season, it has been challenging to overcome Manoah’s ongoing troubles and Kevin Gausman’s poor start (4.95 ERA). Furthermore, Toronto’s bullpen has not been trustworthy, as seen by its 5.03 ERA, which is third worst in the Major League Baseball.
However, Toronto’s offense, which used to be the team’s greatest asset, presents the largest puzzle. The Blue Jays’ lineup has been poor this season; they are 29th in MLB in runs scored. Once the envy of many a baseball team, Guerrero and Bichette’s problems have contributed significantly to the offensive collapse.
