The Toronto Blue Jays were the stars of the offseason one year ago, but despite all their activity they remain one of the playoff longshots in the American League East. This year they've been quieter, but rumor has it they're looking to acquire some starting pitching.
At the top of their list is Ervin Santana, who had one of the best seasons of his up-and-down career with the Kansas City Royals last year. He was only 9-10, but he posted a career-best 3.24 ERA and 1.14 WHIP while making 32 starts. He has had similarly good seasons in the past though, mixed in with campaigns like 2012 when he posted a 5.16 ERA and a 9-13 record.
Ubaldo Jimenez had a similar bounce-back season in the same division, as he won 13 games and pitched to a 3.30 ERA for the Cleveland Indians, helping them reach the postseason as a wildcard.
Ubaldo had 30 more strikeouts last season than Santana, is a year younger and is less homer-prone but also had significantly more walks. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports both men are targets for Toronto.
"The Jays have yet to make an offer to a free-agent starter, according to major league sources. But they have done extensive background work on right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, digging into his medical records, and also remain interested in righty Ervin Santana and other free agents, sources said."
Currently the rotation is headlined by former National League Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, whose knuckleball didn't translate well to the AL East and Toronto's hitter-friendly park. He's followed by a fading veteran in Mark Buehrle and injury-risk fireballer Brandon Morrow.
Josh Johnson, who was acquired from the Marlins last season to be Dickey's 1A, was given up on by Blue Jays brass and allowed to go to the San Diego Padres.
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