The renewed case for a Jays 6-man rotation

Blue Jays need to add one veteran starter at deadline

“Mr. Schneider, party of six! Your playoff reservation is waiting!”

Yes, it says here that in order for the Blue Jays to reach their ultimate goal, or even to win a playoff series, GM Ross Atkins must reach out before Thursday and add an established starting pitcher at the deadline.

Targets? There are multiple.

Manager John Schneider will tell you the credentials for the type of hurler they are looking for are not etched in stone.

Front-end or back-end; lefty or righty; years of control remaining or pending free agent; mid 30s or late 20s, it doesn’t matter. The only important goal for the organization is to be playing deep into October and they can already look up and see the competition and that the dance floor is wide open.

That list of trade deadline starting candidates has been in flux over the past few weeks, moving back and forth day-to-day creating odd noises like a bad polka band accordion. In and out and in and out.

Seth Lugo re-signed with the Royals, who then lost Kris Bubic to shoulder woes. Joe Ryan has been unofficially pulled back by the Twins. The Rangers if they truly believe in their playoff chances need Jacob deGrom. Marcus Stroman lives alone on an island of prolonged mediocrity.

Targets for the Jays sixth spot can still include Mitch Keller and Andrew Heaney (Pirates), Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly (D’backs), Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera and Cal Quantrill (Marlins), Tyler Anderson (Angels) and the big fish, Dylan Cease (Padres), all with different skill sets, body types and contract status, but all of whom can help any team in a two-month dash to October.

The asking price on prospects to enhance the rotation isn’t a deterrent, because the Jays are in a position where they can almost certainly hang on to RHP Trey Yesavage and SS Arjun Nimmala and still have other assets and plenty of cash to make a deal. Credit last summer’s sell-off of veterans for re-stocking the farm system in setting this positive situation up.

The Six-Man Concept:

The most difficult thing is to consider the importance of not disrupting the clubhouse. Why create a negative situation when you can add needed talent and position that addition as a positive.

Some internal and external angst has surrounded the question of who gets bumped from the starting five if you add a legit starter anywhere in the rotation? Make one a long reliever? No! That’s an unnecessary negative vibe.

Which of Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer and Eric Lauer deserves to be relegated to the bullpen? The answer is none, which if it were to happen creates a volatile clubhouse conundrum, a possible chemical reaction that could knock this train off the rails.

Any other bullpen adds, beginning with Seranthony Dominguez are much easier to incorporate without clubhouse disruption.

The starting solution? Add any of the names listed above and immediately slot him into a 6-man rotation, which for the final two months of the 162-game marathon allows every start on at least one extra day’s rest, keeping arms fresh for that important playoff month.

Let’s face it, every starter will tell you he wants the ball every fifth day because that’s what he’s paid for. They are all full of it? At this time of year, an extra day of rest is like an oasis in the desert. The records of the Jays’ Big-4 starters reflects that fact. They appreciate the extra day but can’t admit it. The key stat that makes you know this plan can work is that with the 10 assignments remaining for Berrios it would leave him at 32 starts for the seventh consecutive (full) season. It’s his comfort food.

By the way, Easton Lucas will not be that sixth man.

BERRIOS (10GS): 7/30; 8/5-12-18-25; 9/1-9-15-21-27.

GAUSMAN (9GS): 8/1-8-14-20-26; 9/2-10-16-23.

SCHERZER (9GS): 8/2-9-15-22-29; 9/5-11-17-24.

BASSITT (9GS): 8/3-10-16-23-30; 9/6-13-19-26.

LAUER (8GS): 8/6-13-19-27; 9/3-12-18-25.

SIXTH STARTER (8GS): 8/4-17-24-31; 9/7-14-20-28.