Blue Jays pitchers and catchers have reported to Florida. Pictured: Max Scherzer. Photo Credit: Blue Jays/Facebook
With all the off-season chatter surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays, and major league baseball (MLB) as a whole, it’s hard to believe that pitchers and catchers from the league reported to their teams spring training homes in Florida and Arizona respectively.
The Blue Jays play out of the Grapefruit League in Florida which included 15 teams, Atlanta, the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals.
The Cactus League in Arizona consists of the Athletics Baseball Club, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.
Toronto’s two big signings in the off-season were outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander and veteran pitcher, three-time Cy Young Award winner, Max Scherzer.
Add in the trade for what many so called experts and pundits say is the best defensive infielder in the American League in Andres Gimenez and current Blue Jays Vice-President of International Scouting and Baseball Operations Andrew Tinnish feels the team is in better shape than they were last year.
Toronto will need another big season from Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette to replicate his 2021 to 2023 numbers and Santander to put up similar numbers from last season with Baltimore when he hit 44 home runs and drove in 102 RBI.
That, and likely another everyday starter to have a career year to even be in the conversation in the American League come the end off September.
As for their pitching – consistency from their starters and a much improved bullpen are necessities. Scherzer will get the opportunity to be a starter every five days. Can he shoulder that load? Only time will tell.
He’ll join Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Bowden Francis.
That likely leaves Cuban Yariel Rodriguez as the sixth starter or question mark entering the regular season.
In the bullpen Yimi Garcia is back after a short stint in Seattle, and he’ll set up for new closer Jeff Hoffman (despite those interesting medicals released by other teams) who replaces Canadian Jordan Romano.
Spring training game action for the Blue Jays begins next Saturday February 22 when they host the New York Yankees.
As of today the Jays 40-man roster look like this:
Pitchers
Chris Bassitt
Angel Bastardo
José Berríos
Jake Bloss
Ryan Burr
Bowden Francis
Yimi García
Kevin Gausman
Chad Green
Jeff Hoffman
Brendon Little
Easton Lucas
Adam Macko
Alek Manoah
Tommy Nance
Zach Pop
Nick Robertson
Yariel Rodríguez
Nick Sandlin
Max Scherzer
Erik Swanson
Josh Walker
Catchers
Tyler Heineman
Alejandro Kirk
Infielders
Addison Barger
Bo Bichette
Ernie Clement
Andrés Giménez
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Leo Jiménez
Orelvis Martinez
Will Wagner
Will Wagner
Outfielders
Steward Berroa
Jonatan Clase
Joey Loperfido
Nathan Lukes
Anthony Santander
Davis Schneider
George Springer
Daulton Varsho
Toronto’s position players have to report to Dunedin by next Tuesday.
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
