Toronto Blue Jays hope to get over ALCS hump next year after falling short again
TORONTO — When you get past the potential departure of two of the team’s top sluggers, there is plenty to like about the future of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Yes, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista are set to become free agents and chances are good at least one of them will not be back. Their offensive production will be hard to replace but as the cliche goes, good pitching beats good hitting, and the Blue Jays could have one of the best staffs in baseball in 2017.
The rotation is essentially set for next year with American League earned-run average leader Aaron Sanchez and 20-game winner J.A. Happ providing a stellar one-two punch. Marco Estrada posted decent numbers even with a nagging back injury and Marcus Stroman cleared the 200-inning plateau despite a so-so first half.
Free-agent knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is unlikely to return but Francisco Liriano or even reliever Joe Biagini could fill that slot.