Will Gary Trent Jr. or OG Anunoby start for fully healthy Raptors?

Will Gary Trent Jr. or OG Anunoby start for fully healthy Raptors?

The Toronto Raptors have had one of the most immutable starting lineups in basketball over the last few years. All-Star Pascal Siakam and second-year standout Scottie Barnes would make up the frontcourt, OG Anunoby would hang out in the corner, and the Fred VanVleet/Gary Trent Jr. duo would comprise the backcourt. The acquisition of Jakob […]
Will Gary Trent Jr. or OG Anunoby start for fully healthy Raptors? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Raptors discussing 3-team trade with eyes on Jakob Poeltl

Raptors discussing 3-team trade with eyes on Jakob Poeltl

The Toronto Raptors are starting to kick their trade pursuits into high gear, as Gary Trent Jr. is being shopped all around the league. While he could be traded away to avoid having to pay him a gigantic contract in free agency, Trent is arguably having the best season of his career. Trent has averaged […]
Raptors discussing 3-team trade with eyes on Jakob Poeltl – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Latest Raptors mock draft has Toronto adding brilliant scoring wing

Latest Raptors mock draft has Toronto adding brilliant scoring wing

Toronto Raptors mock draft season is starting to draw closer, as Masai Ujiri has seen his team move closer to winning the Victor Wembanyama lottery than making the postseason. The Raptors have some very clear needs that he needs to address in the draft, starting with their lack of height and electricity on the offensive […]
Latest Raptors mock draft has Toronto adding brilliant scoring wing – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

NBA insider says OG Anunoby trade would give Raptors insane haul

NBA insider says OG Anunoby trade would give Raptors insane haul

The Toronto Raptors are starting to drift ever closer to the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, as the 13-18 team has lost six straight games and won just two of their last 11 contests. The play of OG Anunoby remains spotless, however, as he keeps getting better on both ends. After years of getting tossed aside by […]
NBA insider says OG Anunoby trade would give Raptors insane haul – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Another starting pitcher is off the market, as the New York Mets sign Kodai Senga

Another free agent starting pitcher is off the market.

According to SportsNet New York’s Andy Martino, the New York Mets have signed Japanese starter Kodai Senga.

The Mets are sighing Kodai Senga, according to a source.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 11, 2022

What is more surprising, is the contract that Senga signed. His contract numbers also come from Martino, as the 29-year-old signed a 5-year, $75,000,000, which has an annual average of $15,000,000.

The agreement is for 5 years and $75 million. https://t.co/YeZNvF2HLe
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 11, 2022

Pitching for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in 2022, the 29-year-old righty had a 1.94 ERA in 144 innings pitched. Furthermore, he had a 27.5 K% and an 8.6 BB%. He had a 2.59 ERA in 1089 innings pitched in Japan for his career.
Senga is known for sitting high 90s (touching over 100 mph) and throwing a nasty forkball. While it remains a question if his success can translate overseas, it appears to only improve the Mets starting rotation, which is already pretty darn good.
Interestingly, the Mets payroll now sits at an absolutely insane $349,570,000, well above the $233,000,000 Competitive Balance Tax limit. It’ll be funny to see them get swept in the National League Divisional Series though!

Mets payroll now at $349.57 million
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) December 11, 2022

While it was reported early in the off-season that the Jays could be linked to Senga, it seems unlikely after his agent’s comments about visiting only one country.

Joel Wolfe, the agent for Kodai Senga, says the feee agent right-hander recently visited 6-7 cities but “only one country.” Senga wants a long term deal, Wolfe adds, and has already been offered contracts of 5-6 years.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) December 6, 2022

So, who remains on the free agent market for the Jays? There isn’t a lot in terms of high-end talent, as only Carlos Rodón fits that regard. There are a few mid-rotation guys such as Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Bassitt, but with the qualifying offer attached to those players, I’m not sure …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

Notes and observations about each of the Blue Jays starting pitchers

The Toronto Blue Jays starting rotation is fascinating to me. They have three pitchers pitching like front-line starters, while the back end of the rotation has some upside.

Do I think the rotation is good enough to make the playoffs? Absolutely. Is it good enough to make a deep run in them? That’s a little hard to say, and it really just depends on one guy.
Jose Berrios:
The trade for Jose Berrios was good. Heck, I’d even argue his contract that he signed in the past off-season was good even, despite his inconsistent play in 2022. Which is odd, given his prior success.
From 2017-2021, Berrios posted a 3.74 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 793.1 innings pitched, the 7th most during that stretch.
This season has been difficult for the 28-year-old righty, as he’s posted a 5.28 ERA and 4.83 FIP in 134.2 innings pitched. Moreover, his 21.7 K% is below his career average of 23.5%, and his mark of 26.1% last season.
That isn’t to say there haven’t been some bright spots. For starters, he arguably has the nastiest stuff out of any of the Jays starters.
Not just that, but 13 of his starts have been considered “quality starts” (6 innings pitched with 3 or less earned runs). Furthermore, four more starts (what I’m deeming a “solid start) that have been an inning or less away from a quality start, so 17 of his 25 starts have actually been pretty solid.
In those 17 good starts, he’s pitched 107.2 innings and has an ERA of 2.59 and a …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation