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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Atop depth chart at third base
Fri, Feb 21, 2025, 10:34 AM
Clement is the favorite to begin the season as the Blue Jays' starting third baseman, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Toronto's affinity for utility players likely means Clement won't stay at the hot corner, however -- the 28-year-old saw 41 games at shortstop last season in addition to 96 at third base, and he has prior experience at second base and in left field as well. Clement slashed a passable .263/.284/.408 in 2024 with 12 homers and 12 steals over 452 plate appearances, but he'll be pushed for playing time by Will Wagner, Orelvis Martinez, Addison Barger and others as the Jays look for more offense from their lineup. |
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Orelvis Martinez Orelvis Martinez In mix for third-base job
Fri, Feb 21, 2025, 10:28 AM
Martinez will get a real chance in camp to win a spot on the 26-man roster and could push for the starting job at third base, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Ernie Clement is the nominal favorite to be in the Opening Day lineup at the hot corner, but Martinez is the player that offers the most upside at the position for the Blue Jays. The 23-year-old is coming off a bumpy 2024 campaign that included an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drugs policy, but over 74 games at Triple-A Buffalo he slashed .267/.346/.523 with 17 homers. Martinez's most likely route to the Opening Day roster is on the bench, bouncing between second base and third base in a short-side platoon role, but the young slugger could quickly force his way into a more prominent spot if he begins flashing his power in the majors and can provide at least adequate defense at third. |
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Erik Swanson Erik Swanson Throws off mound
Fri, Feb 21, 2025, 9:10 AM
Swanson (forearm) threw 10 pitches off a mound Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Swanson is a little behind at the beginning of camp due to right forearm fatigue. He was never totally shut down though, and now that he's progressed to mound work, he could build up quickly. Swanson is on track to be ready for Opening Day, and while he's coming off a rough 2024 campaign, the right-hander is out of minor-league options and should have a spot in the Blue Jays' big-league bullpen. |
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Ryan Yarbrough Ryan Yarbrough Returns to Toronto on MiLB deal
Thu, Feb 20, 2025, 5:40 PM
The Blue Jays signed Yarbrough to a minor-league contract Thursday with an invite to spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Yarbrough made his first appearances with the Blue Jays in August after being dealt by the Dodgers in late July. With Toronto, he recorded a 2.01 ERA across 31.1 innings in 12 games. The southpaw was used out of the bullpen in all 12 of his appearances and will presumably look to claw into Toronto's bullpen for the 2025 season. |
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Adam Macko Adam Macko Undergoes knee surgery
Thu, Feb 20, 2025, 12:25 PM
Macko underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Macko suffered the injury early on in camp and an operation had been expected. Blue Jays manager John Schneider was not able to offer a timetable for the lefty's return, but Macko would seem likely to miss at least the first month or so of the season. Once recovered, Macko is likely headed to Triple-A Buffalo. |
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George Springer George Springer Could see time in left field
Wed, Feb 19, 2025, 12:06 PM
Manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Springer might see some playing time in left field this season, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Springer has played just three innings in left field at the major-league level and those came back in 2018. However, like Springer, Anthony Santander has also primarily been a right fielder in his career, so Springer could accommodate him some days by shifting to left. Schneider also noted that Springer is a prime candidate to bat leadoff in 2025, which is where he's spent the overwhelming majority of his time with Toronto. |
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. No extension before deadline
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 8:05 AM
The Blue Jays and Guerrero were unable to reach a contract extension prior to Guerrero's Feb. 18 deadline, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Slated for free agency after the upcoming season, Guerrero does not want to discuss a long-term deal during spring training or the regular season, thus the self-imposed deadline of Feb. 18, which is the day of the Blue Jays' first full-squad workout. When asked whether the two sides came close to a contract extension, Guerrero simply said, "no," adding that while he is still willing to discuss a deal with the Blue Jays after the season, they will now have to compete with 29 other teams. Guerrero will earn $28.5 million in his walk year. |
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Kevin Gausman Kevin Gausman Sporting 'sturdier' build for 2025
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 7:39 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Gausman looks "sturdier" in spring training after the right-hander deliberately put on added weight over the offseason, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. "I've never really pitched an entire season at over 200 pounds, but I think that might be a possibility for me this year," Gausman said. "We'll see what happens. I usually always lose a good amount of weight during the season, so that's why I try to gain as much as I can, knowing I'll lose some of it."
Analysis: Gausman is listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds on the Blue Jays' official roster, and he's hopeful that by bulking up during the offseason through both his diet and strength training, he'll be able to maintain that weight over the course of the long season. The 34-year-old righty is also optimistic that a sturdier build will boost his odds of staying healthy and having something closer to a normal spring training in 2025. While he didn't go on the injured list at any point in 2024, a bout with shoulder fatigue early in camp slowed his ramp-up process and may have played a part in the steep drop in both his ERA (3.83) and strikeout rate (21.4 percent) compared to his first two seasons in Toronto (3.25 ERA, 29.7 K%). |
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Alek Manoah Alek Manoah Close to throwing off mound
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 3:49 PM
Manoah (elbow) said Monday that he's scheduled to begin throwing off a mound in a couple weeks, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Analysis: Manoah underwent a hybrid internal brace procedure last June to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow. The right-hander is hopeful to face hitters by June, begin a rehab assignment in July and be available as an option for the Blue Jays in August. In order to meet his goals, Manoah will have to avoid any bumps in the road in his recovery, which isn't always a guarantee coming back from UCL surgery. |
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Jacob Barnes Jacob Barnes Receives minor-league pact
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 12:39 PM
The Blue Jays signed Barnes to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Barnes spent the 2024 campaign with the Nationals, holding a 4.36 ERA and 55:20 K:BB over 66 innings. The 34-year-old will compete for a spot in the Toronto bullpen but will likely begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo. |
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Adam Macko Adam Macko Dealing with meniscus tear
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 12:10 PM
Macko has a meniscus tear in his left knee that will likely require surgery, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Macko injured the knee during a bullpen session this past weekend. He will be examined further Wednesday, at which point a decision on surgery will be made. The 24-year-old is on the Blue Jays' 40-man roster but has yet to appear in the majors. He spent most of the 2024 season at Double-A New Hampshire, where he posted a 4.87 ERA and 90:30 K:BB across 81.1 frames. |
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Amir Garrett Amir Garrett Latches on with Toronto
Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 3:07 PM
Garrett agreed to a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Sunday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Garrett joined the Angels on a minor-league deal for 2024 but had a 5.08 ERA at Triple-A Salt Lake and made just six appearances in the big leagues. The left-hander will need a strong showing in camp to make Toronto's Opening Day roster, otherwise he's likely to open the campaign at Triple-A Buffalo. |
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Alejandro Kirk Alejandro Kirk Set for more work behind plate
Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 9:55 AM
Kirk will be counted on to catch more games than ever before in 2025 now that Danny Jansen is no longer a Blue Jay, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The duo split duties behind the plate each of the past three seasons, and while Kirk set a career high with 541 plate appearances in 2022, much of that playing time came at DH. The 26-year-old has never played more than 99 games at catcher in a season, but he's expected to handle about 120 starts at the position this year. Tyler Heineman and Christian Bethancourt are competing for the backup job in spring training, and neither is suited for Jansen's old tandem role. Kirk's swing mechanics were out of sync early in 2024, but from Aug. 1 on he slashed a respectable .269/.335/.404 with 28 RBI in 44 games, production Toronto would be content with given Kirk's strong pitch framing and defensive skills. |
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Adam Kloffenstein Adam Kloffenstein MRI on shoulder is clean
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 10:48 AM
Kloffenstein is dealing with right shoulder fatigue but recent underwent an MRI that came back negative, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kloffenstein missed the final two months of the 2024 season with a right shoulder injury, so it's certainly not ideal that he's still battling shoulder issues. However, the expectation is that he'll be ready to resume throwing in a few days. If healthy, Kloffenstein projects to open the 2025 season in the rotation at Triple-A Buffalo. |
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Bo Bichette Bo Bichette Back in action after finger surgery
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 8:39 AM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed Thursday that Bichette is a "full go" for spring training after making a full recovery from September surgery to address a fractured right middle finger, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Bichette needed to have a pin inserted during surgery to stabilize his finger, but Schneider relayed that the pin was removed long ago, and the veteran shortstop feels normal heading into camp. The 2024 campaign was by far the worst of the 26-year-old's six-year MLB career, as his OPS plummeted to .599 after he had delivered marks north of .800 in each of the prior five seasons. Bichette also continued his trend of halting his involvement in the running game; he was held to five stolen bases for the second season in a row after pilfering 25 bags in 2021 and 13 in 2022. Better health in 2025 could allow Bichette to bounce back to some degree after he also had two separate stints on the injured list last season due to calf strains, but fantasy managers shouldn't bank on him fully re-emerging as the five-category standout he was in 2021 and 2022. |
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Will Wagner Will Wagner Fully cleared for spring
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 8:27 AM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Wagner (knee) is "doing everything" during the first week of spring training and will see some exposure to first base and third base in addition to second base during camp, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: After getting his first call to the big leagues last August, Wagner played 172 of his 175 innings in the field at the keystone and slashed .305/.337/.451 over 86 plate appearances before being shut down for the season in late September for arthroscopic surgery to address inflammation in his left knee. Wagner was cleared to resume baseball activities early in the offseason and looks like he'll be operating under no restrictions during camp, where he'll get reps at three different infield spots with the hope of improving his chances of winning a spot on the Opening Day roster. While he may not have a direct path to a full-time gig at any one position, Wagner's versatility and contact skills could be enough for him to settle into a near-everyday role. |
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Erik Swanson Erik Swanson Nursing forearm fatigue
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 8:23 AM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Swanson will be "a little behind" due to right forearm fatigue, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The club is proceeding cautiously with the reliever early on in camp, but Schneider believes that Swanson will have enough time to be ready for Opening Day. Swanson struggled in 2024 with a 5.03 ERA and 37:14 K:BB while allowing 11 home runs over 39.1 innings. However, if healthy, his track record (2.39 ERA, 31 percent strikeout rate from 2022 to 2023) suggests a bounce-back season should be in store. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho Hitting, throwing long toss
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 8:21 AM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Varsho (shoulder) has been able to resume hitting and throwing from 90 feet, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: While Varsho is coming along as expected in his recovery from shoulder surgery, Schneider noted that the Blue Jays are still anticipating that the 28-year-old will miss time to begin the season. Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Schneider mentioned Joey Loperfido, Nathan Lukes, Jonatan Clase and George Springer as candidates to see reps in center field until Varsho is ready to make his season debut. |
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Extension talks ongoing
Fri, Feb 7, 2025, 1:34 PM
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Friday that the club will "continue to work" on signing Guerrero to a long-term contract extension, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
Analysis: It's not earth-shattering news but is at least a confirmation on Atkins' part that negotiations with his star player are ongoing. Guerrero said on the Spanish-language Abriendo El podcast in December that the Blue Jays' offer "was not even close to what we are looking for," and Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in January that the two sides were at least $100 million apart. The 25-year-old Guerrero has said he will not discuss an extension during spring training, so the two sides have until Feb. 18 to work something out. It does not appear at this juncture that a deal is close. |
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Yariel Rodriguez Yariel Rodriguez Will compete for rotation spot
Fri, Feb 7, 2025, 12:49 PM
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Friday that Rodriguez will compete for the fifth spot in the rotation during spring training, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: It makes sense for the club to keep Rodriguez stretched out in case someone else gets hurt, but the right-hander is pretty clearly sixth in the rotation pecking order heading into spring training following the addition of Max Scherzer. He still figures to be needed to start some games at some point, but Rodriguez is likely to begin the season in the bullpen if the Blue Jays' top five starters are healthy. |
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