6 former aces the Blue Jays could gamble on this off-season

Toronto GM Ross Atkins joins the show to discuss being one of the most talked-about teams in the MLB offseason, their priorities heading into next season, and Vlad Guerrero Jr. admitting he was out of shape heading into Spring Training 2.0.

The Toronto Blue Jays have already made one move to address their starting rotation this off-season, bringing back Robbie Ray on a one-year, $8-million deal.

General manager Ross Atkins likely isn't done seeking upgrades to the starting staff and has a number of options in front of him for how to acquire those reinforcements. Equipped with financial flexibility, Toronto could be players in the trade market and a possible destination for marquee free agents.

Another option is to take a short-term flier on a former star who has seen his stock drop for one reason or another. Should the Blue Jays elect to go that route, here are six ex-aces who could be low-risk, high-reward targets for 2021.

Corey Kluber

Age: 34
2020 stats: GP: 1| IP: 1.0 | ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 1.00 | K: 1
Former team: Texas Rangers
MLB Trade Rumours' projected 2021 salary: $12 million

Kluber was one of the most durable starters in the majors from 2014-18, pitching at least 200 innings in each season, but he's thrown a combined 36.2 frames over the past two. There are question marks given the right-hander's recent injury woes, but the two-time Cy Young winner could be due for a major bounce-back season. Kluber rose to stardom as a member of the Cleveland Indians, so Atkins and Mark Shapiro would be very familiar with what he brings to the table from their time in the organization.

James Paxton

Age: 32
2020 stats: GP: 5 | IP: 20.1 | ERA: 6.64 | WHIP: 1.48 | K: 26
Former team: New York Yankees
Projected 2021 salary: $10 million

When he's on the field, Paxton has some of the most electric stuff in baseball. It's his durability that has held him back, as the southpaw has only eclipsed the 150-inning mark twice over his career. The Ladner, B.C., native was originally drafted by Toronto but didn't sign after tense negotiations involving super agent Scott Boras, with whom the Blue Jays have since mended their relationship. A one-year contract could allow Paxton to rebuild his value and set himself up for a bigger payday next winter. Pitching for MLB's only Canadian team would be a bonus for "Big Maple."

Cole Hamels

Age: 36
2020 stats: GP: 1 | IP: 3.1 | ERA: 8.10 | WHIP: 1.20 | K: 2
Former team: Atlanta Braves
Projected 2021 salary: $4 million

The Braves brought in Hamels on a one-year contract to help stabilize their young rotation and give them a proven playoff performer, but injury limited him to one start in 2020. Toronto would benefit from a similar type of addition and the 2008 World Series MVP has been a model of consistency when he's healthy, as evidenced by his career 3.43 ERA.

It might be unreasonable to expect that level of production in his age-37 season, but you can probably still bank on decent value. Should fans be allowed to return to stadiums at some point in 2021, Hamels is very familiar with how raucous it can get inside Rogers Centre. The left-hander started for the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS — better known as The Bat Flip Game.

Jon Lester

Age: 36
2020 stats: GP: 12 | IP: 61 | ERA: 5.16 | WHIP: 1.33 | K: 42
Former team: Chicago Cubs
Projected 2021 salary: $5 million

A five-time all-star, Lester is coming off two consecutive disappointing seasons with the Cubs. His best days are undoubtedly behind him, but does he have one more solid season left in the tank as a back-of-the-rotation arm?

At the very least he'd bring a boost of veteran leadership — and three World Series rings — to a young Blue Jays clubhouse. He's also no stranger to the American League East, having spent his first nine years with the Boston Red Sox.

Chris Archer

Age: 32
2020 stats: N/A
Former team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Projected 2021 salary: $4 million

There may not be a bigger buy-low candidate on the market than Archer after the 32-year-old missed all of 2020. He never lived up to expectations following his trade from Tampa Bay to Pittsburgh, in which the Pirates gave up an incredible package of young talent for his services. Now he'll be seeking a fresh start as he looks to prove he can once again be an effective MLB pitcher. If he's fully healthy, he could be a true difference-maker with his upside. His last season with a sub-4.00 ERA was all the way back in 2015, though.

Rick Porcello

Age: 31
2020 stats: GP: 12 | IP: 59 | ERA: 5.64 | WHIP: 1.51 | K: 54
Former team: New York Mets
Projected 2021 salary: $5 million

Porcello's 2020 campaign was a bit bizarre. He finished with a 1.7 WAR, per Fangraphs, which ranked him higher than stars like Gerrit Cole, Clayton Kershaw and Carlos Carrasco, just to name a few. That being said, he finished just 1-7 with a 5.64 ERA. Porcello did a good job limiting home runs this season, but still surrendered a whopping 11.3 hits per nine innings.

If you remove his Cy Young-winning 2016, Porcello has largely underwhelmed and offers little upside moving forward. He's only 31 but has been logging heavy innings in the majors since he was 20, so it's fair to wonder how much he has left. With Tanner Roark already offering a similar skillset, Porcello doesn't seem like an ideal fit for the Blue Jays, even on a cheap one-year pact.

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