TORONTO -- With the market for starting pitching thinned and Spring Training just around the corner, the Blue Jays’ search for another starting pitcher is ongoing.

In a perfect world, the Blue Jays would find a controllable No. 2 starter soon and sprint into the season with all of their boxes checked, but a Major League offseason is rarely so simple. That level of urgency might not be necessary, either, given the opportunities that could present themselves between now and October.

In an offseason headlined by the six-year, $150 million deal given to George Springer, the Blue Jays have made two moves in their starting rotation. The first was simple, bringing back Robbie Ray on a one-year, $8 million deal on Nov. 7. Then, on Jan. 27, Toronto acquired lefty Steven Matz from the Mets for a package of prospects. This has padded the Blue Jays’ depth, but for a club with clear playoff expectations, they’ll still need to add some significant upside at some point.

Beyond ace Hyun Jin Ryu and No. 1 prospect Nate Pearson, the Blue Jays have Matz, Ray and Tanner Roark, who is coming off a rough 2020 and owed $12 million in '21. A deep group of young arms could easily challenge for a job, including Thomas Hatch, Ross Stripling, Anthony Kay, Trent Thornton, Julian Merryweather and T.J. Zeuch.

Let’s look at the options for an upgrade between now and October.

Free agency

With James Paxton agreeing to a deal to return to the Mariners on Saturday, the free-agent market is topped by Taijuan Walker and Jake Odorizzi, both of whom are familiar names for the Blue Jays.

Walker was excellent after the Blue Jays acquired him at the 2020 Trade Deadline, posting a 1.37 ERA over six starts down the stretch. Odorizzi, who they have liked at points in the past, is coming off an injury-shortened 2020 with the Twins that saw him post a 6.59 ERA over just four starts, but his history of durability from '14-19 is something that Toronto finds attractive.

With Walker, Odorizzi and pitchers on this tier, though, the Blue Jays need to consider not just their talent, but how much of an upgrade that would be from their current No. 5 option. If that upgrade is only marginal, could that financial commitment be better spent somewhere else, or saved to use in-season? This equation leans heavily on the Blue Jays’ own internal evaluation of their depth options, but at this stage in the market, they aren’t likely to find a starter to pitch in the top half of their rotation.

Internal candidates

Toronto’s young starters give it depth, but what are the chances of one arm stepping forward with a breakout season? The Blue Jays won't just gamble on hope, but if there’s one pitcher to watch, it’s Thomas Hatch.

Last summer, pitching coach Pete Walker called Hatch the sleeper of the staff, but that secret’s out now. Hatch looked like he belonged in 2020, pitching to a 2.73 ERA in a multi-inning bullpen role. A similar role is still possible in 2021 as the Blue Jays will have to consider some creative options to fill innings, but Hatch profiles as a starter and possesses true upside.

Don’t discount the value of this full group, though. Going from a 60-game season to 162 games will strain pitching staffs around baseball, and the Blue Jays are better positioned than most to weather that.

The Trade Deadline

With each passing week, it’s becoming more clear that the Trade Deadline could be a major opportunity for the Blue Jays. Putting off the task of adding a starter until July isn’t a perfect solution, but so many factors line up for Toronto here.

By the midway point of the season, the Blue Jays will have a better sense of where they and their rotation stand, but there will also be new names available on the trade market as teams fall out of contention. The same payroll flexibility that allowed Toronto to drive the offseason should allow it to be aggressive and creative at the Deadline, especially when larger contracts are involved. Add in a farm system that’s still stocked with talent, and the Blue Jays have everything a club needs to make a splash.

The need for another top-end starter is all about the postseason, when true World Series contenders can line up two, three or four starters who are capable of winning ballgames in October. Adding the right piece at the right time in-season would continue the club’s recent progression perfectly.