With real fake baseball games about to begin, let’s take a look at how the Opening Day roster might look. Keep in mind the first real real game of the season is still five weeks away.
Catchers (2): Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman
This is the easiest section of the roster. Barring injury, these are the two guys on the team. Next man up is Brandon Valanzuela.
Infielders (4): Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Ernie Clement, Andres Gimenez, Kazuma Okamoto
These are the everyday starters, and the backups at second and third will get a lot of playing time as outfielders, too. I currently have Leo Jimenez on the outside looking in. He has to go through waivers if he doesn’t make the team and there isn’t a lot of depth behind him. But unless he has an outstanding World Baseball Classic and spring training, I think the Jays roll the dice and keep other guys ahead of him. Next up: Jimenez (if he clears waivers), and Ben Cowles.
Outfielders (6): Dalton Varsho, Myles Straw, Addison Barger, Jesus Sanchez, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider
Barger and Schneider, as mentioned above, will function as backup infielders at third base and second base, respectively. I have Lukes over Jimenez on the final roster as a useful piece to play all three outfield positions, solid defender, and left-handed hitter. He can be sent to the minors should the team want to keep Jimenez, but it feels like it would be a tough move to demote a guy who was so valuable last year, including through the playoffs. It feels like another trade to clear the outfield logjam is very possible. Behind the six on the depth chart is Jonatan Clase, still a young player who showed flashes in his brief callup last year.
Designated Hitter (1): George Springer
Springer may play in the field sparingly if Guerrero or Okamoto need a DH day, but if you carry 6 outfielders on the roster, the need for him to pick up his glove decreases. Keeping him off his feet to maximize his offensive upside again feels like the right move.
Starting Pitchers (5): Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, Cody Ponce
The forearm fatigue that will keep Shane Bieber on the injured list to start the season makes this a simple conversation. Eric Lauer will operate as a starter in spring training in case there is an injury, but he’s highly likely to open the season in the bullpen. Berrios is the biggest beneficiary, as he slides into the spot vacated by Bieber and the team, for now, avoids the awkward conversation of where he fits on the team. Gausman should make his first opening day start as a Blue Jay. Next on the depth chart: Ricky Tiedemann, Adam Macko, Lazaro Estrada, Jake Bloss (when healthy), and possibly Max Scherzer.
Well there’s some intrigue! According to additional info from BNS, Scherzer would be brought along slowly with an eye to a season debut in May. As with last season, his greatest value lies at the end of the year, not the beginning.
Relief Pitchers (8): Jeff Hoffman, Louis Varland, Tyler Rogers, Braydon Fisher, Brendon Little, Tommy Nance, Mason Fluharty, Eric Lauer
Hoffman, Varland, Rogers, and Little are locks as the leverage arms. With news leaking Friday night that Yimi Garcia won’t be available to start the season, I have Braydon Fisher making the team. There’s intrigue surrounding Rule 5 options Angel Bastardo and Spencer Miles but as of now, we haven’t seen enough of them to know for sure they are better options than the incumbents. The team snuck Nance through waivers at the end of camp last year, and that’s a possibility again. Lauer makes the team as the long man in the bullpen and spot starter.
Injured List (4): Shane Bieber, Anthony Santander, Bowden Francis, Yimi Garcia
The news is encouraging on Bieber, who might throw off a mound as early as next week. That could put him in line to return to the roster in mid-April and only miss 2-3 starts. Santander had surgery on his nagging shoulder injury and is expected to miss 5-6 months. He remains a possibility to return late in the season, but the club would be wise to operate as if he won’t be a contributor this year. Francis had surgery on his torn UCL ligament and will miss the entire season. Garcia is hopeful to throw off a mound soon and, like Bieber, may also be available in late April.
Jays Balk 