DUNEDIN, Florida — An innocent-looking play during a routine spring-training fielding drill resulted in an injury that could change the Toronto Blue Jays’ season.
Their whole season could depend on how well they fill the hole created by a season-ending injury to promising right-hander Marcus Stroman, whose six-pitch repertoire and sparkling personality were supposed to help the Blue Jays take a solid run at a playoff spot.
Stroman, who was 11-6 with a 3.65 earned run average in his rookie season, was participating in fielding drills to defend against bunts. Third baseman Josh Donaldson called him off on a bunt, Stroman stopped abruptly, something gave in his left knee and he emerged with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The Blue Jays had yet another gap to fill — as if solidifying second base, center field, left field, the No. 5 spot in the rotation and the closer’s role were not enough.
The first result would seem to involve rookie right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who was being considered for either a spot in the starting rotation or in the bullpen, probably as closer. It seems more likely he will be a starter now, although a trade or a free-agent signing could change that.
Right-hander Marco Estrada and rookie left-hander Daniel Norris, who also are in that either-or area, might now be looked at more as starters.
Yankees’ Tanaka makes debut Thursday
Every time he is asked about his right elbow, pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has expressed confidence that it is healthy.
So far in spring training, those instances have been after bullpen sessions, batting practice sessions and simulated games.
That is about to change for Tanaka and the Yankees.
The first indication if Tanaka’s elbow is healthy will occur Thursday night when he is scheduled to make his spring-training debut against the Atlanta Braves in an outing that likely will last one or two innings.
“Absolutely, (I’m ready)” Tanaka said to reporters. “Whenever, wherever they want me to go, I think I’m ready to go into a game.”
It will be Tanaka’s third game since last July’s diagnosis of a partially torn elbow ligament that may eventually require Tommy John surgery at some point. Tanaka made a pair of September starts after missing two months and had mixed results.
Tanaka’s recent preparation for the start was a 29-pitch simulated game on Sunday, and by all indications it went well.
Davis questions future with Orioles
First baseman Chris Davis is in the final year of his contract with the Baltimore Orioles and made a few surprising comments about his situation in recent days.
Davis will be trying to rebound from a poor 2014 season. He hit just .196 with 26 homers and 72 RBIs, one year after a big 2013 campaign (53 homers, 138 RBIs and a .286 batting average).
The first baseman told The Baltimore Sun that he doesn’t want to be with a team that’s not in playoff contention. After this season, the Orioles will have to deal with a tough situation as 11 players can be eligible for free agency, and the loss of long-time right fielder Nick Markakis clearly sent some kind of signal throughout the clubhouse.
“I’ll tell you one thing, I’m not going to play for a team that has no shot at competing every year,” Davis said in The Sun. “The next contract I sign I would like it to be my last one, and I have no desire to play for a loser every year.”
The Orioles will have some major decisions to make before 2016 as the roster could feature a much different look next season. In addition to Davis, catcher Matt Wieters is another key player whose contract is up after this season.
It might be tough for the Orioles to re-sign both of those players, but the question is what the team’s roster will be like in 2016 and, for now, what moves the team could try to make before this season starts.