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2016 AL East Rankings by Position: Starting Pitching

By Nate Wardle

Sep 25, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price (right) addresses the media as Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (left) holds a microphone during batting practice before a game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price (right) addresses the media as Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (left) holds a microphone during batting practice before a game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 26, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) throws in the bullpen during practice at Bobby Mattick Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) throws in the bullpen during practice at Bobby Mattick Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Toronto Blue Jays – Marcus Stroman, Marco Estrada, R.A. Dickey, J.A. Happ, Drew Hutchison, Aaron Sanchez, Jesse Chavez, Roberto Hernandez

Speaking of question marks, the hopes of the 2016 Toronto Blue Jays could ride on the arm of a guy who has only pitched 157 innings in the major leagues. Marcus Stroman is expected to be a star, and he is healthy. This is a guy who is 15-6 with very, very good numbers in limited appearances. The concerns revolve around if he is ready to be the staff ace at 24-years-old.

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After Stroman are two guys coming off career years. Up until last year, Marco Estrada was a career 23-26 pitcher who was unable to hold down a spot in the starting rotation for the Milwaukee Brewers. Last year, in 28 starts he went 13-8 with a 3.13 ERA. Fantastic stuff. As the Jays’ number two, they are going to need him to probably have a similar win-loss record, as Mark Buehrle is gone and there might not be the ability to trade for a David Price at the trade deadline. I don’t see it happening.

J.A. Happ returns to Toronto where he is 19-20 in his career. The Jays paid Happ $12 million a year to be similar to what he was for the Pirates to finish 2015, where he went 7- with an ERA of 1.85. That’s not going to happen in the AL East. The other benefit is he is left-handed.

Dickey is a guy who is 41-years-old, who went 11-11 in 2015, but struggled at times. Hutchison is a pitcher who has not been able to stay in the rotation consistently. Sanchez is highly touted and did a great job in the bullpen in 2015. But, the Jays are going to need him to be a successful starter in 2016.

Next: Is the O's Rotation Good Enough?

As many questions as the Red Sox and Orioles had, at least those players had benchmarks they had previously reached. The Jays are entering unchartered territory without Buehrle and Price to help them out.

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