Earlier than the low season started, one of many largest questions surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays was what they might do with their surplus of MLB-ready younger place gamers.
Though the franchise lacks blue-chip prospects, a mix of inside improvement and trades made throughout a disappointing 2024 season offered them with a choice of gamers making the league minimal with fewer than one yr of MLB service time and expertise on the sport’s highest degree.
After 2024 concluded, the crew was anticipated to attract on this cohort to facilitate trades for win-now items. Whereas the Blue Jays shipped Spencer Horwitz to the Cleveland Guardians to deliver again Andrés Giménez and Nick Sandlin, this group has hardly thinned.
Though the arrival of pitchers and catchers to spring coaching doesn’t prohibit the Blue Jays from making additional strikes, the heavy lifting of their roster constructing has been completed and their surplus stays.
Now that the mud has settled, it’s value checking in to see the place these gamers stand within the group.
Projected function: UTIL/DH vs. RHP
How the low season modified his standing: The addition of Giménez blocked Wagner’s path to a full-time function at second base, arguably the place that matches him greatest.
On the identical time, as a result of Wagner may play at both nook of the infield — and the crew lacks a full-time DH — taking part in time isn’t going to be a difficulty if he can hit.
Truthful expectations for 2025: Projection programs are different on Wagner, starting from a 93 wRC+ to a 116 wRC+ on FanGraphs. He’s a tough participant to interpret as a result of a lot of his most spectacular minor-league work got here when he was older than a lot of his competitors, and his success on the plate is based on wonderful swing selections moderately than loud instruments.
He has a number of roads to a major function within the Blue Jays lineup, however that may say extra concerning the crew being one bat quick than the knowledge of creating a profound offensive impression.
Projected function: Backup INF
How the low season modified his standing: Very like Wagner, Jiménez had the potential of a beginning job at second base closed because of the Giménez acquisition, however he seems to inhabit the function that was all the time almost certainly for him getting into the low season.
As a result of the infielder is out of choices and he can deal with each middle-infield positions defensively, his possibilities of beginning 2025 on the Blue Jays roster have been all the time terribly excessive. With simply 63 MLB video games below his belt and comparatively modest prospect pedigree, he appeared destined for the bench, although.
What’s modified is that he’ll want an damage to Giménez or Bo Bichette to interrupt free from the utility middle-infielder function as an alternative of being a darkish horse in a spring coaching competitors to fit in at second.
Truthful expectations for 2025: There was a time when being the second-string shortstop on the Blue Jays meant loads of time on the bench and slightly little bit of run at different positions. Bichette is now not a paragon of sturdiness, which signifies that Jiménez might get an prolonged look sooner or later.
It’s robust to think about he carves out an enormous function with out accidents hitting, however he might take a step towards proving he belongs on the MLB degree long-term.
Projected function: DH/Nook OF vs. LHP
How the low season modified his standing: Contemplating the struggles Schneider encountered in 2024, he appeared like a primary candidate for a contemporary begin, however transferring the outfielder would’ve been promoting at a low level in his worth.
The addition of Anthony Santander signifies that Schneider gained’t be competing for an on a regular basis function within the outfield, however that was by no means a sensible expectation for a man coming off a season wherein he hit .191/.282/.343.
Truthful expectations for 2025: As a result of Schneider was electrical offensively in 2023 and effectively under common in 2024, he appears like a tough participant to pin down.
Nonetheless, he’s not assured to be on one facet of the spectrum or the opposite. It’s believable that he’ll present an roughly league-average bat with slightly thump in a bench function in 2025. That looks as if a good place to set the bar.
Projected function: Daulton Varsho fill-in/4th OF
How the low season modified his standing: Lukes all the time appeared prone to maintain down centre area early within the season, and the addition of Miles Straw shouldn’t change that, though it might imply extra relaxation for Lukas in opposition to southpaws.
After Varsho returns, issues will get a bit murkier, but when Lukes seems something like he did on the finish of 2024 (132 wRC+ with extra BB than Ok in 91 PA), he gained’t be the odd man out.
Bringing Santander aboard prevented Lukes from making a run at a left-field function, however that was unlikely to be within the playing cards, given his restricted energy.
Truthful expectations for 2025: Lukes regarded wonderful within the closing video games of 2024, however he doesn’t run effectively (37 percentile dash velocity) or hit the ball laborious (max exit velocity of 104.3 mph).
He’ll give the Blue Jays aggressive at-bats when known as upon and gained’t embarrass himself if requested to begin for just a few weeks at a time, however the 30-year-old’s ceiling isn’t notably excessive, and he has lots to show.
Roughly common offence — pushed by stable on-base expertise — and satisfactory defence are doubtless in no matter function he performs.
Projected function: triple-A outfield depth
How the low season modified his standing: Loperfido is among the many gamers whose prospects have been most affected by Toronto’s low season exercise.
The Blue Jays signing Santander prevented him from battling for the left-field spot or forming a platoon with Schneider.
Daulton Varsho’s early-season absence additionally may’ve created a quick alternative in centre, however Lukes seems to have jumped Loperfido on the depth chart, and the addition of Straw is crowding that place for now.
Truthful expectations for 2025: Loperfido might theoretically shake issues up with an excellent spring, however a ticket to Buffalo seems to be in his future.
Though he’s getting into his age-26 season, he has solely performed 71 video games on the triple-A degree and nonetheless has one thing to be taught/show there.
Projected function: triple-A 3B/outfield depth
How the low season modified his standing: Santander’s presence means Barger gained’t be capable of compete for a beginning outfield spot except spring coaching accidents open up a slot.
Grabbing the third-base job isn’t inconceivable, contemplating it’s presently held by Ernie Clement, who’s coming off a stable season however doesn’t have an unimpeachable observe file. The hole between the 2 seems important for now, as Clement is coming off a 2.2 fWAR season whereas Barger managed a -0.3 fWAR mark.
If the Blue Jays had signed Alex Bregman, Barger would’ve had a fair more durable highway to taking part in time.
Truthful expectations for 2025: Not like Loperfido, Barger has a good quantity of triple-A expertise (153). It’s doable he’s discovered all he can there over three stints between 2022 and 2024.
Barger has compelling instruments, and there are projection programs that like him loads (ZiPS has him down for a 107 wRC+ and a couple of.3 fWAR in 2025), however he might need to lie in await a while till a chance comes.
It is going to be fascinating to see if he can convert extra of his potential into manufacturing the subsequent time he will get an opportunity.
Projected function: triple-A outfield depth
How the low season modified his standing: Including one other centre fielder in Straw didn’t assist Clase, however his age (22) and relative lack of triple-A expertise (94 video games in a single season) meant he was prone to head to the minors, it doesn’t matter what.
Clase appeared like a robust commerce candidate due to the mix of youth, velocity and defensive potential he affords. His worth across the league would’ve been greater than lots of the others on this listing, however the Blue Jays opted to maintain him round.
Truthful expectations for 2025: It wouldn’t be surprising if Clase spent the whole season at triple-A or made small MLB cameos when wanted.
If the Blue Jays name on him to play a significant function in 2025, he can have made an sudden leap in his improvement, or issues can have gone unsuitable for a number of different gamers.
Projected function: triple-A INF depth/future beginning INF to dream on
How the low season modified his standing: By not including a 3rd baseman, the Blue Jays left the door open for a Martinez breakout, however that’s a tough factor to depend on from a participant whose 2024 was largely erased attributable to a PED suspension.
If the crew finally ends up liking him higher at second base, Giménez has that locked down for now, however Martinez’s carrying software is his bat, and the Blue Jays will discover a spot for it if they should.
Martinez isn’t shut sufficient to the Blue Jays’ instant plans for the crew’s strikes to have an effect on him an excessive amount of. He wants to indicate up and mash at triple-A and let the remaining maintain itself.
Truthful expectations for 2025: Martinez has already logged 129 video games at triple-A over a two-season span, however barring a spring shock, that’s the place he’ll be to begin 2025.
It’s notable that he’s by no means dominated on the degree. His .869 OPS in 2024 seems stellar, nevertheless it got here in a implausible offensive surroundings and was good for a very good however not unbelievable 120 wRC+.
Martinez ought to be capable of return to triple-A, greatest that quantity and put himself in consideration for a callup sooner or later in 2025. If he can’t handle that, his standing as a prime prospect within the group can be at risk.
