Toronto's pitching depth is about to face its toughest test yet, and it's happening even before the season officially kicks off! It’s a classic baseball adage: you can never have too much starting pitching. Well, just a handful of hours before Blue Jays pitchers and catchers are set to report for Spring Training, we're getting a stark reminder of why that's so true.
Shane Bieber's spring ramp-up is going to be delayed. Manager John Schneider revealed on Tuesday that the ace is dealing with some right forearm inflammation that's been bothering him since the end of the 2025 World Series run. To make matters trickier, a key depth piece, Bowden Francis, will need UCL reconstruction surgery, meaning he'll be sidelined for the entire 2026 season.
But here's where it gets a bit concerning for the Blue Jays faithful: "[Bieber's] here, he’s feeling good and he’s playing catch out to 90 feet," Schneider explained. "We’re being cautious by saying not [pitching] at the beginning of the year and we’ll work through it with Shane. We’ll go week-to-week with him and see how it’s going. No procedures or anything in the offseason, it’s just a high-level pitcher coming off Tommy John and pitching longer than he probably expected in some really high-stress outings. We’re just taking a really, really cautious approach with him."
Bieber, who was the Blue Jays' significant Trade Deadline acquisition last July, joined the team while still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Upon his return, the former Cy Young Award winner delivered a strong performance, pitching 40 1/3 innings down the stretch and an additional 18 2/3 innings in the postseason. It was a surprise to many when Bieber decided to opt into his $16 million player option for 2026 rather than exploring free agency. Now, the focus is squarely on his health and meticulously planning his season. This situation underscores precisely why the Blue Jays invested in such robust pitching depth, even if they hoped to utilize it much later.
What this means for Shane Bieber:
Keep a close eye on Bieber's progress throughout Spring Training. Think of it as managing a player returning from injury, with all the standard steps from playing catch to throwing off the mound. Don't expect any firm timelines, though. The Blue Jays are committed to a slow and steady approach with Bieber. Especially after the demanding 2025 World Series run, both the player and the team understand that having Bieber healthy for the crucial September and October games is the ultimate goal. General Manager Ross Atkins stated, "We share his expectation, which is to pitch a lot and to have a significant impact on his entire season. The reason we’re not specific with those timelines is because of the additional pressure that we feel is unneeded. We want it to make the most sense for him and make the most sense for us to win as many games as possible."
What this means for José Berríos:
For a while now, the most logical outcome for José Berríos has been that things would eventually sort themselves out. It appears that's exactly what's happening. Berríos wasn't pleased with how his 2025 season concluded, finding himself moved to the bullpen and then landing on the Injured List – a tough stretch for a pitcher known as "La Makina" for his consistent availability. Now, the Blue Jays are looking to move forward with him. "That’s been handled," Schneider confirmed. "I think José realizes that it probably could have been handled a little bit differently on everyone’s end, really. Looking back, I wish we had done things a little bit differently, and I’m sure he does as well. He’s the normal José that’s coming in ready. He’s had conversations with the guys he needs to have conversations with. We want to just put that behind us." This situation seems resolved, at least for now. Berríos is expected to start the season in the rotation, where he's always been most effective.
What this means for the Blue Jays’ depth:
Francis's absence is a significant blow. Having a versatile depth starter in Triple-A is always a valuable asset, but with Francis out until 2027 and Bieber's potential delayed start, the Blue Jays' rotation depth is definitely being tested. Eric Lauer is ready to be stretched out and, having been a lifesaver for the rotation in 2025, the team knows he can handle the workload. Top left-handed pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann will be managed with shorter stints as he recovers from his own Tommy John rehab. Keep an eye on Gage Stanifer, who had a breakout 2025 season and could be in Triple-A early this year.
The Blue Jays are certainly hoping this is the end of the pitching-related bad news. You truly can never have enough pitching, and when you start asking why, the answer usually isn't far behind.
But here's where it gets controversial: Is this a sign that the Blue Jays might have been too aggressive in their pursuit of a championship in 2025, pushing their pitchers too hard? Or is this just the unfortunate reality of managing elite athletes, especially those returning from major surgery? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
