According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Toronto Blue Jays and left-handed starter Robbie Ray “are in agreement on a one-year, $8 million deal” for the 2021 season, per Passan’s sources.
Ray, 29, was traded to the Jays from Arizona — with whom he’d been since 2015 (4.11 ERA/4.05 FIP, 998 strikeouts, 376 walks, 1.36 WHIP in 147 starts) — at this season’s August 31 trade deadline, allowing 11 earned runs over 20.2 innings of work for Toronto down the stretch.
Over 51.2 innings combined between Arizona and Toronto last season, Ray walked an alarming 45 batters (most in the majors among pitchers with over 50 IP) and allowed 13 home runs (third-most in baseball).
Per Passan, the Blue Jays intend on employing Ray as a starter in 2021. A playoff team in 2020, Toronto’s clearly looking to reinforce their rotation for what would appear to be the beginning of a prosperous time north of the border.
A young positional core in Vladimir Guererro Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Teoscar Hernandez, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are all just coming into their own.
Ray and 2020 AL Cy Young Award finalist Hyun-jin Ryu — both southpaws — and fireballing young right-hander Nate Pearson are pegged to fill out the top three spots in Toronto’s starting five, with righties Ross Stripling and Tanner Roark currently penciled into the backend.
With potential moves still on the horizon for the Blue Jays, the Rays and Yankees may have another legit challenger in the AL East next season.
We’ll keep you posted with more hot stove news as it becomes available.
