BACK FROM THE BREAK
Donaldson could go on a tear again, and the kids could have bigger roles
The Blue Jays could create some excitement in the unofficial second half, especially if Josh Donaldson gets back in the swing of things again.
As the Blue Jays returned to the Rogers Centre on Friday to kick off the final two-and-a-half months of the season, the immediate future looked bleak.
With 67 games to play, Toronto sat 231⁄ games back of the 2 first-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East and 14 games out of a wild-card spot. Even a visit from the Baltimore Orioles — who returned from the all-star break 391⁄ games 2 back of first and without star shortstop/third baseman Manny Machado, sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday — couldn’t sweeten that pot.
According to FanGraphs, the Jays have a 0.3 per cent chance of making the playoffs; data analysis website FiveThirtyEight has their odds at negative one.
With October baseball all but off the table, you’d be forgiven for blowing off the ballpark for some of your other favourite summer activities. But as the Jays get deeper and deeper into rebuild mode, there’s still reason to tune in.
á Saying goodbye: It was before Toronto’s June 29 game against Detroit, a day after the Jays traded Steve Pearce to the Red Sox, that general manager Ross Atkins said the organization was “in a situation where the needle is pointing more to the future for us.” A 6-9 record since then has likely only solidified that stance, so expect activity on the trade front in the next 11 days. Now’s the time to say goodbye to some of your favourite players, like J.A. Happ, considered one of the best rental starters available on this summer’s trade market. Some possible trade chips — Josh Donaldson, Marco Estrada and Kevin Pillar — are likely to stick around due to injury but Toronto could get interest in such relievers as Seunghwan Oh, Tyler Clippard and John Axford.
á The Donaldson watch: The 32-year-old third baseman hasn’t played since May 28. Whether or not he returns should have a significant impact on the Jays’ record down the stretch: in August and September last year, after struggling with injury in the first half of the season, Donaldson hit .302 with 22 home runs and 47 RBIs. Even when things aren’t going the Jays way, that’s fun to watch.
á Rejigging the rotation: Should Happ go, and with Aaron Sanchez and Estrada both on the disabled list, Ryan Borucki could become a fixture in the Jays rotation. He has already impressed in four starts against tough opponents, with a 3.52 ERA over 23 innings. Another name to watch for should the organization need another starter: No. 10 prospect Sean Reid Foley, who has a 3.92 ERA over 592⁄ 3innings with Triple-A Buffalo this season.
á Out standing in the field: Teoscar Hernandez has been one of the highlights of this Jays season, with his 15 home runs and 39 RBIs. Randal Grichuk has also stepped things up after a dreadful start to the year, hitting .256 with nine homers and 21 RBIs since his return from injury on June1. With Pillar out, fans could get a look at the future of the Jays’ outfield in the likes of Dwight Smith Jr. and No. 3 prospect Anthony Alford, who has struggled in Triple-A this year but has the athletic ability to impress on defence.
á Closing time: Closer Roberto Osuna, who started a rehab assignment with Class-A Dunedin earlier this week, is expected to return to the team on Aug. 5 after his 75-game domestic violence suspension is up. He How the organization and fans react to the one-time allstar’s return will undoubtedly be a storyline.
á If all else fails: Head south to Buffalo. Baseball’s No. 1 prospect, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who came of the disabled list on Thursday and returned to Double-A New Hampshire, will likely land with the Bisons before the season’s up. It’s not the Blue Jays, but it’s the same organization.