Mets rotation will feature three former Blue Jays later this season

At some point in 2021, the New York Mets rotation has the potential to make the Toronto Blue Jays a little jealous. When they reach full health, the rotation will feature three former members of the Blue Jays organization.

To start the year, the Mets will have a rotation featuring ex-Blue Jays Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker. Later this season, we complete the trifecta with the return of Noah Syndergaard.

The Mets have a partial “what could have been” Blue Jays rotation

With these three starting for the Mets, the Amazins have a “what could have been” Blue Jays rotation. This excludes Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, David Peterson, and Joey Lucchesi. Nonetheless, I find it interesting that three of the best starting pitchers within the Mets organization are all former members of the Toronto organization.

Furthermore, all three are under 30 at the start of the 2021 season. Stroman and Syndergaard were both originally drafted by the Blue Jays while Walker only joined them in a midseason trade last year.

Still, in some weird alternative universe, the three pitched together on the 2020 Blue Jays.

Maybe most amazing of all is that there is only one year where there was any crossover between the three. The 2012 season was Stroman’s first as a professional and Syndergaard’s last with the Blue Jays before he was traded to the Mets.

The two never did pitch together, though. Syndergaard spent all season with the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League in Single-A. Stroman started off in Low-A ball and received a promotion to Double-A. Because of his age, he passed Syndergaard. Stroman would make his MLB debut in 2014 with Thor making his first big league start for the Mets in 2015.

These three aren’t the only ones with Blue Jays equipment sitting somewhere in their homes. Jonathan Villar was a member of the 2020 Toronto squad. Sean Reid-Foley, who begins the year at the Mets’ alternative site, has had a few sips of coffee with the club in recent seasons. Perhaps if enough injuries happen or the Mets need a starter for a doubleheader this season, Reid-Foley gets the call. Could it be possible that we see a rotation featuring four ex-Blue Jays?

Want your voice heard? Join the Rising Apple team!

Write for us!

If so, I would expect former Toronto draft picks Miguel Castro and Aaron Loup to pitch a lot of innings in relief during those games. The game-winning hit comes off the bat of Caleb Joseph when he drives in Brandon Drury. After all, they are former Blue Jays as well.