Over the past two days, the Blue Jays announced that relief pitchers Ryan Burr and Erik Swanson have both suffered injuries, severely impacting their bullpen as the season approaches.
With both Swanson and Burr likely unavailable for Opening Day at the end of March due to elbow discomfort and right shoulder fatigue, respectively, the Blue Jays are actively seeking new pitchers to fill the gap left by their injuries.
Despite some positive momentum, the Blue Jays’ camp has been hit by a series of injuries, with Swanson and Burr facing setbacks that will prevent them from being ready for the start of the season. This highlights a challenge that Toronto faces, as many top teams like the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres can rely on a deep farm system to call up talented young pitchers when needed—something the Blue Jays currently lack due to a weaker farm system.
This inability to call up solid prospects has been a key reason why teams like the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, and Tampa Bay Rays have stayed competitive, as they can count on their young pitchers to step up during times of injury and keep their momentum going.
With their bullpen now stretched thin, the Blue Jays will likely look to sign free agents or make a trade, especially given their surplus of infielders. Toronto currently has eight infielders on the roster, and with limited spots available, the team could use this depth as leverage to strengthen their bullpen.
Clearly, the Blue Jays will need to add more depth to their bullpen, especially with injuries already taking a toll and more likely to come throughout the season.
Leave a Reply