Who's on first ?

Spring training is well underway here, with full team workouts underway. Ahead of the first one on Monday, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo addressed the entire group.


“My main message was how excited we are for this year’s team and that was about it,” he said. “We’re going to have a bigger talk whenever we have our 26 guys.”



Who will those 26 guys be? It’s probably it’s too early to tell. But, we’re going to try to guess anyway. Opening Day may still be a little under six weeks away, but it seems like a good time to roll out our 2.0 roster projection.

Catchers (2)

Danny Jansen, Reese McGuire
Non-roster invitees: Patrick Cantwell, Caleb Joseph
Prospects who could contribute: Riley Adams, Alejandro Kirk

The expectation is the catching tandem this season will look a lot like it did when last season ended, with Danny Jansen and Reese McGuire splitting the duties.
Jansen, 24, has already been working with some of the Blue Jays’ starting pitchers this spring, including catching Hyun-Jin Ryu’s latest bullpen session, the first of many as they get to know each other better. With a rebuilt rotation, Jansen has a few new guys to get acquainted with, including Tanner Roark and Chase Anderson. Usually, however, it does not take Jansen long to get accustomed to a new pitcher, he said.

“Obviously, communication and trust and talking and getting to know what they like to do, and then just going right into the fire and playing with each other, I find is a really good way to do it,” he said. “You get firsthand experience on what he wants to do and if he needs a certain pitch to get it back on track, it’s all right there.”

While Jansen focussed on his receiving and throwing last season, blossoming into one of  catchers in the American League, his offence was lacking. While he showed some pop at the plate at different points, overall, his line of .207/.279/.360 was disappointing.
“But when I look back on it, that’s going to make me a better player, and it already has,” he said. “I finally have an offensive routine and it’s gotten a lot stronger and it’s something I can really fall back on if I need to and something I can do every single day. If I hadn’t struggled, I might not have had this strong of a routine going into this season offensively.”
McGuire’s place in camp has not been affected by his recent arrest.. Last week, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said McGuire “won’t be impacted from a baseball standpoint as things stand today.” His court date is scheduled for March 16. The team and McGuire are expected to address the matter at a later date, likely when legal proceedings have concluded.

Infielders (6)

Travis Shaw (1B), Cavan Biggio (2B), Bo Bichette (SS), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3B), Rowdy Tellez (1B/DH), Brandon Drury (UT)
Others on the 40-man: Santiago Espinal
Non-roster invitees: Andy Burns, Joe Panik, Rubén Tejada
The infield is the most certain area on the roster. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichette are the faces of the franchise — quite literally since their likeness has already been used on promotional material — and, assuming they’re healthy, they’ll be in the starting lineup on March 26 at the Rogers Centre.

Young Vlad in the cage

Guerrero is the presumptive third baseman, although, when the topic of moving to first base came up, Montoyo said, “I’m never going to say no. There’s always a chance of that.” Even so, the Blue Jays remain dedicated to giving Guerrero every chance to prove he can play third. Biggio will be at second base while Bichette will be the everyday shortstop.
Completing the all-MLB sons infield at first base is Travis Shaw, who signed a one-year deal during the offseason. The 29-year-old, following two very good ones in which he averaged a 120 wRC+ between 2017 and 2018. But, he’s spent the offseason returning to what made him successful in the past. With Toronto, he’s hoping for a fresh start.
“Last year, I think it was well documented the struggles that I had and I’m ready to put that behind me,” he said. “Having a new start makes it a little easier to do that — new team, new league — I’m excited to re-energize me and I feel really good going into spring training this year and I’m looking to get started on the right foot.”
He’s expected to primarily play first, although he can move around the infield, too. His versatility is another tool in Montoyo’s toolbox. “I love guys that can play different spots. That makes your team better,” he said.
Brandon Drury can play the infield and outfield, and because of his defensive flexibility, he’s up for the utility job. The wild card, however, is his offensive play. By choosing to tender him a contract, the front office has indicated it believes he can hit better than he has so far while in a Blue Jays uniform (.214 with a .632 OPS in 476 PA). That said, the runway appears to be shortening for the 27-year-old. He’s on the 40-man, which could give him an edge over non-roster invitee Joe Panik, who is a player to watch. But Drury has options remaining, too, and can be sent down to the minors.
“The biggest thing for Brandon will be his offensive production will dictate how much he’s playing,” Atkins said.
With a 26th roster spot, the club has flexibility with its bench. The final spot could go to Rowdy Tellez, who put up solid power numbers last season with 21 home runs, but the coaching staff would have liked to have seen more plate discipline. He can play first and be the designated hitter. But if the club takes two extra outfielders, it may want a more versatile infielder, in which case Panik or Santiago Espinal could be considered. Montoyo is a noted fan of Tellez, which could mean he gets the chance to come north. If he struggles early, the club can pivot.
(Panik’s route to the Blue Jays could look a lot like Eric Sogard’s last season. Sogard was also a non-roster invitee and one of the final cuts last spring. But, he started strong in Triple A, and when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got off to a poor start in Toronto, he was sent down and Sogard was promoted.)

Outfielders (5)

Teoscar Hernández (RF), Randal Grichuk (CF), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (LF), Derek Fisher (OF), Anthony Alford (OF)
Others on the 40-man: Billy McKinney, Jonathan Davis
Non-roster invitees: Patrick Kivlehan

Barring any surprises, the outfield will line up as so: Gurriel in left field, Randal Grichuk in centre and Teoscar Hernández in right. Heading into the season, centre field was a question but, for now, the club has opted to go with Grichuk, who will play the position this spring to further familiarize himself there.
“All that will make me feel a bit more comfortable,” he said on Monday. “Last year, I got thrown into the fire, so to speak, in centre. I’m comfortable out there, but with anybody, more reps you’re going to be better and pull out your best. Definitely feel a little bit more comfortable knowing now, instead of the day after, or the day (Kevin Pillar) got traded.”
This is a pivotal spring for Derek Fisher and Anthony Alford, who are out of options and cannot be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers. Atkins has indicated both will have ample opportunity to demonstrate they should make the cut. If the club opts to take two extra outfielders, consider the duo the favourites, only because the Blue Jays likely want to give them one last chance to prove they can play in the majors.

Starting pitchers (5)

LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, RHP Tanner Roark, RHP Chase Anderson, RHP Matt Shoemaker, RHP Trent Thornton
Others on the 40-man: Ryan Borucki, Thomas Hatch, Anthony Kay, Julian Merryweather, Patrick Murphy, Sean Reid-Foley, Jacob Waguespack, T.J. Zeuch
Non-roster invitees: Phillippe Aumont

Prospects who could contribute: Nate Pearson

Barring health issues, Ryu will be the Opening Day starter. Other certainties in the rotation are Roark, Anderson and Matt Shoemaker.
That leaves one spot up for grabs. And a lot of guys are, in theory, competing for it: Trent Thornton, Shun Yamaguchi, Ryan Borucki, Jacob Waguespack, Sean Reid-Foley, Anthony Kay and T.J. Zeuch, who all, save for Yamaguchi, made at least one start for the Blue Jays last season.
Because of elbow tightness, Borucki has been prescribed a period of rest. With his history of arm issues, including bone spurs that sidelined him most of last season, the Blue Jays are being precautious. It’s still early enough in camp that he could be ready for Opening Day, but for now, it at least puts a question mark beside his name. Yamaguchi has spent the last three seasons as a starter in Japan after a successful stint as a reliever. He’s made it clear he wishes to start in the majors – but is willing to go to the bullpen, which may be where the Blue Jays ultimately find he could be a bigger weapon, with his plus splitter and his experience pitching in high-leverage situations.
That leaves Thornton as the early leader, although how everyone pitches in Grapefruit League action will help determine a lot. Thornton did yeoman’s work last season, pitching 154 1/3 innings to lead the team in his rookie season. Asked if there was a pitcher in camp the media wasn’t talking enough about, Jansen mentioned Thornton.
“He looks real strong,” Jansen said. “He’s definitely a little bit of a different man coming in. He’s got a little fire. He always has, but a little bit more.”
As for Reid-Foley and Waguespack, according to Montoyo, they’re being viewed as starters. If Reid-Foley doesn’t make the club, he’ll start in Triple A. With Waguespack, there seems to be a slight chance he could move to the bullpen, but on Monday, Montoyo said “as of today,” he’s a starter.
Like Reid-Foley, Kay and Zeuch will likely begin the season in Buffalo as starting depth.

Relief pitchers (8)

RHP Ken Giles, RHP Anthony Bass, RHP Rafael Dolis, RHP Sam Gaviglio, RHP Shun Yamaguchi, LHP Thomas Pannone, RHP Wilmer Font, RHP Jordan Romano
Others on the 40-man: Yennsy Díaz, Elvis Luciano, Hector Perez
Non-roster invitees: A.J. Cole, Ryan Dull, Justin Miller, Jake Petricka

Ken Giles is a lock as the closer. Offseason additions Anthony Bass and Rafael Dolis seem to be set, too, considering they’re on the 40-man roster. Sam Gaviglio is the incumbent long man — and, his nearly-100-inning effort last season has probably earned him the automatic nod. Thomas Pannone is the most likely lefty option, although, with the new three-batter minimum rule, the specialist lefty is no more. Still, Pannone has worked primarily as a starter over his career, and his splits aren’t too drastic (a .785 OPS versus righties and a .722 OPS versus lefties).

Wilmer Font impressed in his role as an opener last year, although, with a more stable rotation, there may be less need to improvise. Font is here for now, but he’s a guy fighting for a job. Same goes for Jordan Romano, who had 21 strikeouts in 17 appearances last season but also allowed 13 earned runs. He gives the team velocity out of the ‘pen. But so could A.J. Cole, who’s a non-roster invitee to watch. He averaged 10.4 strikeouts per nine in 26 innings last year in Cleveland. He’ll need to impress in camp, but another hurdle is getting on the 40-man roster, which, overall, is getting harder for the front office to tinker with.

“The organization has gotten to a point where we feel very good about our 40-man roster,” Atkins said last week. “It’s getting stronger and stronger and much more difficult to take guys off. So yeah, that certainly does help someone already being on the roster, ’cause it’s not addition by subtraction.”