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With Max Scherzer deal complete, a look at how Blue Jays’ pieces fit
While further moves remain possible – and the Blue Jays are looking to be opportunistic if markets develop their way – their roster picture is somewhat clearer now that Max Scherzer is set to join the rotation.
TORONTO – Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays finalized their $15.5-million, one-year contract Tuesday night, the formal addition of the three-time Cy Young Award winner crossing off the last item from the club’s winter to-do list.
While further moves remain possible – and the Blue Jays are looking to be opportunistic if markets develop their way – their roster picture is somewhat clearer now that Scherzer is set to join the rotation.
Given that, let’s look at how their pieces fit together, with spring training about a week away.
STARTING ROTATION
Current Projection – Kevin Gausman; Jose Berrios; Chris Bassitt; Max Scherzer; Bowden Francis
Depth – Yariel Rodriguez; Jake Bloss; Adam Macko; Eric Lauer; Adam Kloffenstein; Alek Manoah (recovering from elbow reconstruction)
Outlook – Scherzer gives the Blue Jays the starter they’d hunted for all winter, and as colleague Ben Nicholson-Smith recently noted, bolstering the rotation behind pillars Gausman, Berrios and Bassitt was necessary.
Rodriguez will be stretched out in the spring and barring an unexpected need, he’ll end up in the bullpen, further fortifying the club’s biggest trouble spot last year. But he gives the team options if there’s an injury or Francis unexpectedly regresses. Bloss, the centrepiece of the return from Houston for Yusei Kikuchi, can be given more developmental time after the Astros rushed the 2023 third-rounder to the majors after only 20 professional outings, but could also force his way into some innings. And Manoah looms as a potential late-summer addition if his rehab progresses without issue.
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BULLPEN
Current Projection – Jeff Hoffman; Yimi Garcia; Chad Green; Erik Swanson; Yariel Rodriguez; Nick Sandlin; Brendon Little; Tommy Nance
Depth – Zach Pop; Ryan Burr; Josh Walker; Easton Lucas; Nick Robertson; Mason Fluharty
Outlook – A relief crew that went from 4.6 wins in 2023, as calculated by Fangraphs, to minus-2.5 last year was central to the club’s 74-88 collapse a year ago and will look substantially different than the crew that began 2024 in the ‘pen. Adding more swing and miss was a priority and Hoffman, signed to a $33-million, three-year deal, will definitely help. He’s set to take over from Jordan Romano as the club’s closer, supported by Garcia, who re-signed for $15 million over two years after being traded at the deadline, and Green.
A back-in-form Swanson and newly acquired Sandlin should give manager John Schneider more options to bridge the gap from starter to back-end arms, while Rodriguez can be used in a variety of roles, as he has leverage experience in Japan along with 21 starts in the majors. If he is indeed in the bullpen, that leaves two openings, with lefty Brandon Little likely to fill one spot and Tommy Nance, Ryan Burr and Zach Pop front-runners for the last available opening.
Nance and Pop are both out of options, which means they can’t be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers. Walker, who has 24 games of big-league experience with the Mets, and Fluharty, who struck out 76 in 67 innings at triple-A Buffalo, are options if the Blue Jays want to carry a second lefty.
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POSITION PLAYERS
Current Regulars Projection – C Alejandro Kirk; 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.; 2B Andres Gimenez; SS Bo Bichette; 3B Ernie Clement; LF Anthony Santander; CF Daulton Varsho; RF George Springer; DH Will Wagner
Current Bench Projection – OF Nathan Lukes; UT Davis Schneider; INF Leo Jimenez; C Tyler Heinemann
Catching Depth – Christian Bethancourt; Ali Sanchez; Phil Clarke
Infield Depth – Addison Barger; Orelvis Martinez; Josh Kasevich
Outfield Depth – Joey Loperfido; Jonatan Clase; Steward Berroa; Myles Straw; Alan Roden
Outlook – The Blue Jays appear mostly set here, although they have room to be creative at third base, left field and DH, and there will be some interconnectivity between the three spots. Clement is positioned to open taking the bulk of reps at third base and the club is hoping Wagner can log some time at the hot corner, as well, along with Jimenez, plus a handful of games there for Guerrero.
Barger could also fight his way into the mix as a left-handed hitter with power and his ability to play the outfield makes him ideal. At the same time, the Blue Jays also need a right-handed bat off the bench to play left field against lefties, a logical time to sit Wagner and give Santander a DH day, which makes Schneider a fit.
Lukes’ ability to play all three outfield spots and big-league readiness make him a more logical fourth outfielder than youngsters like Loperfido and Clase, although Varsho’s uncertain status to begin the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery opens up an early-season pathway for them, plus Barger and Straw, too. Prospects like Martinez, Roden and Kasevich will be among those with a chance to force themselves into the picture during the season.
