Blue Jays GM Atkins gives clarity to roles of Joe Biagini, Roberto Osuna
Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins held his postseason media availability on Monday afternoon
Beyond the big-picture decisions facing the Toronto Blue Jays in the coming months, some smaller-scale conversations remain that will significantly impact the 2017 roster.
Speaking today on The Jeff Blair Show, Atkins seemed to suggest that the Blue Jays were still not 100% certain about auditioning Joe Biagini as a starter in the spring, but the front office is certainly open to the idea.
Atkins noted that one of the main appeals of Biagini in last offseason’s Rule 5 Draft was the club’s belief that his pitches would “play up” in a bullpen rule. He told Blair and Stephen Brunt this morning that they would need to be sure Biagini’s arsenal does not “play down” with a move back to the starting rotation.
Biagini was a career starter prior to the Rule 5 move. In 2015 with the double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants affiliate), Biagini made 22 starts in 23 games for 130.1 innings as a 25-year-old. He posted a 2.42 ERA that season, but didn’t have a sub-4.00 ERA in any of his three seasons prior, so some risk remains.
Looking a little further down the road, the 2018 rotation could have a substantial impact on this decision. Even if Biagini is not called upon often in 2017 as a starter, Marco Estrada and Francisco Liriano are schedule to hit free agency following this season. A wave of pitching prospects could be ready by 2018, but with young and unpredictable arms, the more the merrier.
In regards to Osuna, this puts to rest (for now) a conversation that would quickly come to resemble that of Aaron Sanchez the past two seasons.
The young Mexican is a dominant closer, but the temptation to stretch his arsenal over 150+ innings is understandably tempting. Especially when considering the number of plus pitches he throws.
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