Toronto Blue Jays
2015 Win/Loss Record:
93-69, 1st in American League East
Last Postseason
Appearance: 2015
Last World Series
Championship: 1993
Key Arrivals: Drew
Storen (P), J.A. Happ (P)
Key Departures: Ben
Revere (OF), David Price (P)
Manager: John Gibbons,
9th Year W/L 555-541
Overall Review: The Toronto Blue Jays
ended a 22-year postseason drought in 2015 by winning the American League East
division title. After coming from behind in the ALDS against Texas, Toronto
came up just short in the ALCS against eventual World Series champion Kansas
City. The Jays look capable of repeating as division champs even with the loss
of one of their starting pitchers to a division rival.
The line-up is the best in
baseball as far as home runs and scoring runs are concerned, but their
inability to drive in runners in scoring position in the ALCS (0 for 13 in the
deciding Game 6) is cause for concern if Toronto hopes to advance to the
World Series in 2016. The bullpen, a question mark last year, has been
upgraded.
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| Jays' slugger Edwin Encarnacion |
Infield: Third baseman Josh Donaldson
is the reigning AL MVP. In his first year in Toronto, he batted .297 while
launching 41 home runs and adding 123 RBIs while playing a strong defensive
third base. Although there are some who thought the Angels’ Mike Trout should
have won the MVP, Donaldson was the right decision. He led his team from eight
games behind (in July) to the postseason while the Angels missed the playoffs
after fading down the stretch.
Troy Tulowitzki struggled
offensively after being acquired from Colorado at the trading deadline. But
keep in mind, he had a horrible collision, on a pop fly, with centre-fielder
Kevin Pillar that broke the shortstop’s shoulder blade. Now that he’s healed,
look for improvement from his numbers (.239, 5, 17 in 41 games with Toronto) in
2016. Ryan Goins will start the season at second base, but could be replaced by
Devon Travis when the latter returns from shoulder surgery in May. Travis
started the season at second in 2015 but was injured and only played 62 games.
He did hit .304, eight home runs and 35 RBIs. Goins stats (.250, 5, 45) were
less impressive but he was a capable back-up during the playoff run and can
also play shortstop.
A platoon is likely possible at
first base with Chris Colabello (.321, 15, 54) sharing the duties with Justin
Smoak (.226, 18, 59). Colabello can also play in the outfield. Designated
hitter Edwin Encarnacion (.277, 39, 111) can also play first when necessary. In
2015, the slugger rebounded from a slow start in April and May and almost was
the third Blue Jay to finish the season with 40 home runs.
Outfield: Right-fielder Jose Bautista
will more than likely hit 40 home runs and drive in 100+ runs this year (.250,
40, 114 in 2015). The question is whether his unreasonable contract demands
will cause a distraction and generate dissension in the clubhouse. While still a
power threat, his demands and the timing of them seem a little selfish.
However, as long as the team keeps winning it shouldn’t be an issue.
Centre-fielder Kevin Pillar (.278,
12, 56) became a fan favourite and a solid player in the Jays’ lineup in 2015.
It seems a bit confusing that he was mentioned in trade rumours during the
off-season. Pillar is one of those players you’d want to keep around for a
while. It looks like Michael Saunders will be the left-fielder at the start of
the year. But don’t be surprised if Ezequiel Carrera or Dalton Pompey supplant
him by the All-Star Break.
Catching: The Jays lost the best
back-up catcher in the league when Dioner Navarro left as a free agent after
2015, but Russell Martin returns for his second year as the starter. In 2015,
Martin batted .240, hit 23 home runs and added 77 RBIs. The back-up this year
will be Josh Thole, who was primarily R.A. Dickey’s personal catcher last year.
Thole is basically a no-hit, defensive catcher.
Starting Pitching: David Price is gone
but won’t be missed too much. While it’s true that his arrival in a trade with
Detroit was the spark that ignited the Jays’ run to the post season, there’s
more than enough young arms on the staff to replace him. Marcus Stroman will be
the ace. After missing the first five months of the regular season recovering
from knee surgery, he pitched well enough in September (4-0, 1.67 ERA and 18
strikeouts in four starts) to be pencilled in as Price’s replacement. There’s
no reason to think that Stroman won’t win 15+ games with the run support he’ll
receive from the Jays’ potent lineup.
Marco Estrada was a surprise
pick up last season and will be the number two guy this year. In 2015, Estrada
was 13-8, with a 3.13 ERA and 131 strikeouts. Starters three and four will be
R.A. Dickey (11-11, 3.91, 126), who rebounded from a horrible 1-10 start, and
free agent signee J.A. Happ (11-8, 3.61, 151 with Seattle and Pittsburgh in
2015) who will be in his second stint as a Blue Jay, 2013-14 being the first
one.
The fifth starter will be Aaron Sanchez who was brilliant out of the bullpen last year after 11 lackluster starts. Although a key contributor in
relief, the Jays have an array of bullpen help this year that could make
Sanchez available as a starter. Although he won't be on the 25-man roster when the season starts, don't count out Drew Hutchison, who had a 13-5 record despite a very high 5.57 ERA. He could see some starts if any of the starters falter or lose time due to injury.
Relief Pitching: Roberto Osuna ended up
being the closer last year (20 saves and a 2.58 ERA) but he could fill a number
of roles in 2016: closer, set-up man, even a starter. At 21 years of age, Osuna
has a bright future in the Bigs, but it’s still undetermined in what type of role
he will be in this year. Brett Cecil is the best left-hander coming out of the
pen (5-5, 2.48, 70 and five saves).
Toronto picked up Drew Storen
from Washington in the off-season, the biggest addition to the bullpen. Storen
was the Nats’ closer, saving 29 games, until Washington picked up Jonathan
Papelbaum from the Phillies. If Osuna retains the closer role, look for Storen
to be the new set-up man. If Sanchez goes back to the bullpen, this one-two-three
punch could be the best in the league.
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| Toronto ace Marcus Stroman |
Prediction: The Jays have the ability to repeat as division champs but certain questions abound. Can Marcus Stroman be the replacement for David Price? Will Jose Bautista's and Edwin Encarnacion's contract situations be a source of distraction? Can Troy Tulowitzki return to the form he displayed with the Colorado Rockies? And can the team score runs in the postseason without relying on hitting home runs? All things considered, Toronto will repeat as AL East champs. Time will tell if they are good enough to beat Kansas City and go to the World Series.
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