![Save Up to 30% at Accor Hotels with MasterCard [Japan]](https://boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/3294bc4b6d1941eef8987e0e40318da7.jpg?#)
Ross Atkins says Blue Jays looking at free-agent market to help pitching depth
In the search for some help at the bottom of their rotation, the Toronto Blue Jays may be turning to the free-agent market.
In the search for some help at the bottom of their rotation, the Toronto Blue Jays may be turning to the free-agent market.
While speaking with the media on Friday afternoon, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said that the club needs “to consider external alternatives,” adding that they “have a couple of things in the works there that are more on the depth front via free agency.”
Some starting pitchers who remain free agents after pitching in the majors in 2024 include Spencer Turnbull, Alex Wood and Rich Hill.
Toronto has been forced into scramble mode with the No. 5 spot in its rotation as Max Scherzer works to return from a thumb injury that’s kept him on the injured list since the opening week of the season. The answers so far have included four Easton Lucas starts, skipping the spot in the pitching order, and most recently, a bullpen day led by Yariel Rodriguez.
-
-
MLB on Sportsnet
Watch the Toronto Blue Jays, Blue Jays Central pre-game, marquee MLB matchups, Jays in 30, original documentaries, the wild card, divisional series, championship series and entire World Series on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
“We need to see more consistency, but the flashes of Easton Lucas, a couple of really good outings out of Jake Bloss recently, (Eric) Lauer was effective and we’ll have some guys getting healthy, too,” Atkins said when asked if there were any internal solutions for that No. 5 starter spot. “(We) have Adam Macko coming back into the fold. Really encouraged by Scherzer over the last week and a half, and looking forward to the next week and a half for him. (It) will be very telling for us.”
Scherzer threw off a “heavy” two-inning bullpen session on Friday. The next step would ideally be facing hitters in a live bullpen session, leading into a rehab stint, according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.
Atkins said that the reliability of the four mainstays in the Blue Jays rotation — Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios and Bowden Francis — has allowed the team to work around the uncertain slot in the starting five, but added that it’s not something they can do for a full season.
As for the other internal options Atkins mentioned, the GM said he thinks Bloss “is an option right now.”
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372236456112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372236456112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372236456112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); }
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-947850" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6372236456112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/6372236456112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/video/atkins-on-blue-jays-biggest-issue-we-just-have-to-score-more/" }); });
Acquired as part of the return from the Houston Astros for Yusei Kikuchi at last year’s trade deadline, the 2023 third-rounder has struggled to begin the season with triple-A Buffalo, carrying a 5.75 ERA through five starts. However, the six-foot-three right-hander hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last two outings, collecting 12 strikeouts over nine innings of work.
“We’d just like to see more consistency out of him,” Atkins said. “His last two outings have been very effective. If he can repeat that a time or two, then there’s a very real option for us.
“I would be comfortable with him coming here tomorrow.”
