Stars aligning for a run at playoffs
Five issues facing the Blue Jays:
Center of attention: The Blue Jays found out a lot about themselves and new franchise cornerstone George Springer in 2021: They are a good team when he’s not on the field, and a great team when he’s healthy.
Toronto played .615 ball (48-30) when Springer played and were essentially a .500 team (43-41) when he was unavailable. Yet Springer, 32, was dogged often by injury, beginning at the start of spring training, followed by a quadriceps strain that delayed his Blue Jays debut to April 28. He missed two weeks in August with a left knee strain, during which the Blue Jays lost eight of 14 games.
They lost 51⁄2 games of ground to the New York Yankees in that stretch and missed a three-way tie for the two wildcard berths – claimed by the Boston Red Sox and New York – by one game.
Vlad’s bag: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 22, still has four seasons remaining before free agency. Yet after Guerrero’s first MVP-caliber season – only Shohei Ohtani’s singular greatness kept his hands off the trophy – the time is now for Toronto to ensure he remains a Blue Jay well into the next decade.
Guerrero is arbitration-eligible for the first time after his fantastic 2021 campaign (his 48 homers led the majors and he led the American League in on-base (.401), slugging (.601) and adjusted OPS (169). He is estimated to receive about $7 million for 2021.
Rotation
wonders: AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray’s departure (to the Mariners, on a five-year, $115 million contract) and National League All-Star Kevin Gausman’s arrival (on a five-year, $110 million deal) is about as this for that as it gets.
So, which investment will prove sounder over the short and long terms? The answer could significantly impact the Jays’ fortunes. Gausman remains something of a two-pitch pitcher, finding success with the San Francisco Giants after leaning almost exclusively on his fastball and split-finger offering. Ray can blow you away but also mixes in multiple breaking pitches. Can Gausman’s simplified mix play in the AL East?
The last legacy: With Guerrero and shortstop Bo Bichette firmly established as second-generation All-Stars, will Cavan Biggio take a step and join them?
OFFSEASON OUTLOOK
A bit more fortune might have vaulted the Blue Jays into the playoffs last season. A little more pitching depth and perhaps one more versatile, big bat should have the Blue Jays solidly positioned to fight for the AL East.
2021 record
91-71; fourth place, AL East
The son of Houston Astros Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, Cavan moved through the Blue Jays organization alongside Guerrero and Bichette, but bigleague success has proved more elusive. Biggio, 26, backslid in an injury-plagued 2021. He’s slotted to bat lower in the Blue
Jays lineup while sharing time with right-handed hitting infielder Kevin Smith. It’s a key spot: 2021 All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien signed with the Texas Rangers.
Great Nate? Alek Manoah’s emergence in 2021 – 127 strikeouts in 1112⁄3 innings – removes some pressure on erstwhile top prospect Nate Pearson to be that guy. Ray’s signing affords Toronto the chance to potentially start Pearson in the minors, yet the Blue Jays may face an interesting quandary: Is Pearson’s longterm runway the most important thing or will current needs force them to summon his talented arm sooner?
Pearson debuted during the truncated 2020 and injuries and uneven performance limited him to 12 big-league appearances last year, including one start.