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Re-sign or sayonara? A position-by-position look at Blue Jays' options
TORONTO - Once the last out is made in a baseball season, especially one that takes a team as deep as the American League Championship Series, next year is just around the corner.
Decisions have to be made fast. In the case of potential free agents, qualifying offers have to be extended (or not), options have to be weighed and wants and needs have to be identified quickly because the off-season trade- and free-agent market opens mere days after the World Series ends.
The Blue Jays have been talking internally about the off-season for a while now. Certain general targets are starting to emerge. It’s clear on the position side they would like to get younger, faster and more left-handed at the plate. They obviously have to quickly evaluate their own 10 free-agent candidates and find out what it’s going to cost to keep the ones they want.
Here’s a quick preliminary look at what the landscape in Blue Jays Land might look like come next spring.
Catcher
Russell Martin is signed through 2019 ($20 million each year) and he figures once again to be the workhorse behind the plate. On his watch, the Blue Jays pitching staff was the best in the American League this year. His work with the starters, both young and old, has been critical to that success.
With both Josh Thole and Dioner Navarro likely out of the picture, the Jays will be in the market for a quality backup so that Martin can get a bit more time off, perhaps getting a few more DH at-bats going forward. This is a position in which the team could look to get younger and find someone who could reliably catch 40-50 games.
In the system: A.J. Jimenez has not developed the way the organization would have liked, but Reese McGuire — who came to Toronto from Pittsburgh in the Drew Hutchison/Francisco Liriano deal — is definitely a person of interest.
First base
If not Edwin Encarnacion — and that is still a possibility — then who? They have Justin Smoak signed, but there is no indication or appetite to see Smoak as an everyday option. This could be a position in which the Jays will have to trade or bite the bullet on a medium-range free agent. Perhaps somebody like Brandon Moss, a left-handed bat coming off a decent power season (28 homers with the Cardinals) would fill the bill.
In the system: Rowdy Tellez experienced a breakout season in 2016. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Tellez, a left-handed hitter pounded out 23 home runs (also hit for a .297 average and a .387 OBP) for double-A New Hampshire and moved on to the Blue Jays’ radar in a big way. He was in the big-league camp last year and may be there again this season competing for a job.
Second base
Status quo should be the order of play in the middle of the diamond. Devon Travis is expected to be fully healthy for camp and the Jays’ only concern is that he stay healthy for an entire season. There is no reason to think that superbly qualified glovemen Ryan Goins and Darwin Barney won’t be engaged again in utility roles.
In the system: Christian Lopes had his best minor-league season, batting .295 at New Hampshire. There is also plenty of middle-infield depth at the system’s lower levels.
Shortstop
Troy Tulowitzki completed his first full season with the Jays and continued to deliver both with the bat and the glove. He is locked up for five more seasons and, while there might be some dead money at the end of that deal, he’s more than earning his salary at this point. He has assumed a major leadership role in the clubhouse and, as he did in Colorado, has become a mentor for some of the younger players.
In the system: Richard Urena made the jump from class-A to double-A without much difficulty in 2016 and he promises to be a solid two-way player, perhaps competing for a job in 2018.
Third base
Josh Donaldson, even operating at far less than full health, was the heart and soul of the Blue Jays’ playoff push. It is impossible to see anyone knocking him off third base for the Blue Jays anytime soon. He’s under team control through 2018.
In the system: This is one position in which the Jays really don’t have a minor-leaguer who is anywhere near ready for the big time.
Outfield
The one constant here for the Blue Jays is Kevin Pillar, who certainly has to be in the Gold Glove conversation this year, what with Kevin Kiermaier having spent considerable time on the DL in 2016. Pillar will be back in centre field for the Blue Jays next year. Ezequiel Carrera has earned some consideration with his play in 2016, but it will likely again be in a fourth outfielder role.
That said, the outfield is where Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro can make some noise in their pursuit of speed and left-handed bats. Two names that jump off the free-agent list are Josh Reddick and Ian Desmond. While he’s not a left-handed hitter, Desmond made a more or less smooth transition from shortstop to centre field with the Rangers. He’s a right-handed bat, but he can run (21 steals) and also hit 22 homers and drove in 87 runs. Reddick could step into right field in Bautista’s absence. He was injured for the early part of 2016, then was traded by the A’s to the Dodgers. He hit .281 with a .749 OPS and would be nicely suited to the cozy dimensions of Rogers Centre. Maybe his old pal Donaldson could put in a good word.
Even in the absence of a free-agent option in the outfield, this is where the Jays might be able to fashion a trade or two that can accomplish much of what they hope to do this off-season. The inventory of players who fit their needs is greater in the outfield than any other position.
In the system: One of these days, Dalton Pompey is going to get over the hump and become an everyday big-leaguer. He’ll never have a better opportunity than next spring with the winds of change blowing through Dunedin.
Designated hitter
In the unlikely event of both Encarnacion and Bautista returning, then there is no conversation here, given that both will probably need plenty of DH days.
If the Jays go looking for someone to fit the bill, they might take a look at Pedro Alvarez, who is essentially a guy who only hits right-handed pitchers. Still, he hits them rather well, blasting 22 homers in 337 at-bats for the Orioles this season.
In the system: Jesus Montero put up some decent numbers at Buffalo, with a .317 BA, .349 OBP, 11 HR and 60 RBIs.
Starting pitchers
Unless they deal away one of their current starters, there’s really not much work to be done here. Still, it’s hard to imagine that teams looking to improve their staffs, and that includes just about every team in baseball, wouldn’t inquire about Marcus Stroman or Aaron Sanchez. Either would bring a rather nice haul on the trade market, no doubt.
More likely than not, though, the Jays will stand pat with Stroman, Sanchez, J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada and Francisco Liriano. There will no doubt be some debate about Joe Biagini’s role going forward. He has the repertoire and the big body of a starter, but he certainly held his own as a key member of the bullpen this year. As a Rule 5-er, he became an indispensable weapon for John Gibbons out of the ’pen.
In the system: The various trades made at the deadline in 2015 and again this year have wiped the system clean of high-profile pitching prospects at the triple-A and double-A levels. The best prospects are Conner Greene and Sean Reid-Foley, who toiled in A-ball at Dunedin this year.
Bullpen
The Blue Jays have their closer for now and the future in Roberto Osuna, who fashioned a fine season in his sophomore year. He is the final piece to a puzzle that has no other obvious pieces, save for Biagini if he remains in the ’pen.
Depending upon what the free-agent market will bear for a left-hander such as Brett Cecil, the Jays might try to keep him. During this past week, for the first time this year, he stepped back up and looked like the pitcher he was a year ago when he went 40-some appearances without allowing a run. Perhaps he can recapture that magic next year. Jason Grilli, ancient, yet inspirational both on the field and in the clubhouse, could be a welcome returnee. From there, nothing is certain. It will take some quality work by Atkins to put that relief corps back together.
In the system: In limited work, Danny Barnes appeared to have the right stuff to be a competent reliever. He was nearly unhittable at Buffalo, so he will no doubt get a long look next spring. With another year under his belt, Ryan Tepera could earn full-time employment as well.
TORONTO - Once the last out is made in a baseball season, especially one that takes a team as deep as the American League Championship Series, next year is just around the corner.
Decisions have to be made fast. In the case of potential free agents, qualifying offers have to be extended (or not), options have to be weighed and wants and needs have to be identified quickly because the off-season trade- and free-agent market opens mere days after the World Series ends.
The Blue Jays have been talking internally about the off-season for a while now. Certain general targets are starting to emerge. It’s clear on the position side they would like to get younger, faster and more left-handed at the plate. They obviously have to quickly evaluate their own 10 free-agent candidates and find out what it’s going to cost to keep the ones they want.
Here’s a quick preliminary look at what the landscape in Blue Jays Land might look like come next spring.
Catcher
Russell Martin is signed through 2019 ($20 million each year) and he figures once again to be the workhorse behind the plate. On his watch, the Blue Jays pitching staff was the best in the American League this year. His work with the starters, both young and old, has been critical to that success.
With both Josh Thole and Dioner Navarro likely out of the picture, the Jays will be in the market for a quality backup so that Martin can get a bit more time off, perhaps getting a few more DH at-bats going forward. This is a position in which the team could look to get younger and find someone who could reliably catch 40-50 games.
In the system: A.J. Jimenez has not developed the way the organization would have liked, but Reese McGuire — who came to Toronto from Pittsburgh in the Drew Hutchison/Francisco Liriano deal — is definitely a person of interest.
First base
If not Edwin Encarnacion — and that is still a possibility — then who? They have Justin Smoak signed, but there is no indication or appetite to see Smoak as an everyday option. This could be a position in which the Jays will have to trade or bite the bullet on a medium-range free agent. Perhaps somebody like Brandon Moss, a left-handed bat coming off a decent power season (28 homers with the Cardinals) would fill the bill.
In the system: Rowdy Tellez experienced a breakout season in 2016. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Tellez, a left-handed hitter pounded out 23 home runs (also hit for a .297 average and a .387 OBP) for double-A New Hampshire and moved on to the Blue Jays’ radar in a big way. He was in the big-league camp last year and may be there again this season competing for a job.
Second base
Status quo should be the order of play in the middle of the diamond. Devon Travis is expected to be fully healthy for camp and the Jays’ only concern is that he stay healthy for an entire season. There is no reason to think that superbly qualified glovemen Ryan Goins and Darwin Barney won’t be engaged again in utility roles.
In the system: Christian Lopes had his best minor-league season, batting .295 at New Hampshire. There is also plenty of middle-infield depth at the system’s lower levels.
Shortstop
Troy Tulowitzki completed his first full season with the Jays and continued to deliver both with the bat and the glove. He is locked up for five more seasons and, while there might be some dead money at the end of that deal, he’s more than earning his salary at this point. He has assumed a major leadership role in the clubhouse and, as he did in Colorado, has become a mentor for some of the younger players.
In the system: Richard Urena made the jump from class-A to double-A without much difficulty in 2016 and he promises to be a solid two-way player, perhaps competing for a job in 2018.
Third base
Josh Donaldson, even operating at far less than full health, was the heart and soul of the Blue Jays’ playoff push. It is impossible to see anyone knocking him off third base for the Blue Jays anytime soon. He’s under team control through 2018.
In the system: This is one position in which the Jays really don’t have a minor-leaguer who is anywhere near ready for the big time.
Outfield
The one constant here for the Blue Jays is Kevin Pillar, who certainly has to be in the Gold Glove conversation this year, what with Kevin Kiermaier having spent considerable time on the DL in 2016. Pillar will be back in centre field for the Blue Jays next year. Ezequiel Carrera has earned some consideration with his play in 2016, but it will likely again be in a fourth outfielder role.
That said, the outfield is where Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro can make some noise in their pursuit of speed and left-handed bats. Two names that jump off the free-agent list are Josh Reddick and Ian Desmond. While he’s not a left-handed hitter, Desmond made a more or less smooth transition from shortstop to centre field with the Rangers. He’s a right-handed bat, but he can run (21 steals) and also hit 22 homers and drove in 87 runs. Reddick could step into right field in Bautista’s absence. He was injured for the early part of 2016, then was traded by the A’s to the Dodgers. He hit .281 with a .749 OPS and would be nicely suited to the cozy dimensions of Rogers Centre. Maybe his old pal Donaldson could put in a good word.
Even in the absence of a free-agent option in the outfield, this is where the Jays might be able to fashion a trade or two that can accomplish much of what they hope to do this off-season. The inventory of players who fit their needs is greater in the outfield than any other position.
In the system: One of these days, Dalton Pompey is going to get over the hump and become an everyday big-leaguer. He’ll never have a better opportunity than next spring with the winds of change blowing through Dunedin.
Designated hitter
In the unlikely event of both Encarnacion and Bautista returning, then there is no conversation here, given that both will probably need plenty of DH days.
If the Jays go looking for someone to fit the bill, they might take a look at Pedro Alvarez, who is essentially a guy who only hits right-handed pitchers. Still, he hits them rather well, blasting 22 homers in 337 at-bats for the Orioles this season.
In the system: Jesus Montero put up some decent numbers at Buffalo, with a .317 BA, .349 OBP, 11 HR and 60 RBIs.
Starting pitchers
Unless they deal away one of their current starters, there’s really not much work to be done here. Still, it’s hard to imagine that teams looking to improve their staffs, and that includes just about every team in baseball, wouldn’t inquire about Marcus Stroman or Aaron Sanchez. Either would bring a rather nice haul on the trade market, no doubt.
More likely than not, though, the Jays will stand pat with Stroman, Sanchez, J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada and Francisco Liriano. There will no doubt be some debate about Joe Biagini’s role going forward. He has the repertoire and the big body of a starter, but he certainly held his own as a key member of the bullpen this year. As a Rule 5-er, he became an indispensable weapon for John Gibbons out of the ’pen.
In the system: The various trades made at the deadline in 2015 and again this year have wiped the system clean of high-profile pitching prospects at the triple-A and double-A levels. The best prospects are Conner Greene and Sean Reid-Foley, who toiled in A-ball at Dunedin this year.
Bullpen
The Blue Jays have their closer for now and the future in Roberto Osuna, who fashioned a fine season in his sophomore year. He is the final piece to a puzzle that has no other obvious pieces, save for Biagini if he remains in the ’pen.
Depending upon what the free-agent market will bear for a left-hander such as Brett Cecil, the Jays might try to keep him. During this past week, for the first time this year, he stepped back up and looked like the pitcher he was a year ago when he went 40-some appearances without allowing a run. Perhaps he can recapture that magic next year. Jason Grilli, ancient, yet inspirational both on the field and in the clubhouse, could be a welcome returnee. From there, nothing is certain. It will take some quality work by Atkins to put that relief corps back together.
In the system: In limited work, Danny Barnes appeared to have the right stuff to be a competent reliever. He was nearly unhittable at Buffalo, so he will no doubt get a long look next spring. With another year under his belt, Ryan Tepera could earn full-time employment as well.
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