Blue Jays bold predictions for 2017 season

Jose Bautista Will Hit 40 Bombs

Jose Bautista is healthy and in midseason form ready to prove to the baseball world once again why he is one of the premier sluggers in the game. Joey Bats will re-establish himself as one of the most feared power hitters in the game.

The right fielder has dominated Grapefruit League action as well as leading the Dominican Republic offensive charge at the World Baseball Classic. The 36-year old appears rejuvenated and ready to carry the Blue Jays on his back right to the postseason once again.

I am not going to go as far to say the Bautista will win the AL MVP honors, but I will put my money where my mouth is and throw out 40 round trippers in 2017. That is 40 big flies catapulting the Blue Jays offence like it is 2010 all over again.

A .280/40 HR/115 RBI/ 100 BB season is not out of the question for the bat-flipping, adopted Canadian son. The slugger is going to make 29 major league teams regret not giving him a legitimate free agent sniff this offseason. The Bautista/Donaldson/Morales trio will be one of the most explosive lumber-touting trios in 2017.

You don’t wake the sleeping giant, and the Dave Dombrowski’s of the baseball world have awakened the giant north of the border. Be prepared for giant power numbers.

Francisco Liriano Will Be Most Dominant Starter

On paper, Francisco Liriano may look like the 5th starter in a rotation, where any of the five hurlers could be the opening day starter for Manager John Gibbons. Liriano suffered a scary injury on a comebacker during the postseason, but is recovered and ready in his first full season as a Blue Jay.

GM Ross Atkins made a bold acquisition when dealing Drew Hutchison for not only Liriano, but promising prospects Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez last summer. Liriano was reacquainted with catcher Russell Martin and is destined for greatness in 2017.

The 33-year old lefty posted a 2.92 earned run average in 8 starts with the Jays last season and has been unhittable so far this spring. Liriano has yet to surrender a run this preseason tossing five scoreless innings while fanning eight and only walking one batter thus far.

My prediction for Liriano is an 18-5 record with a 2.87 earned run average this season good for the best win total and ERA on the staff. Yes, even better than Aaron Sanchez.

Look for Liriano to find the strike zone more consistently under the game calling of Martin for the entire season and the whiff totals to climb to career highs.

A season on the horizon that will make the Blue Jays ponder re-signing Liriano before he hits free agency at season’s end.

Book it. 18+ wins and an ERA in the neighborhood of 2.87.

Kendrys Morales Will Make You Forget About Edwin Encarnacion

The Toronto Blue Jays faithful were decimated this offseason when the clutch hitting Edwin Encarnacion fled the country for financial freedom in Cleveland. The Jays brain-trust was scrutinized all offseason by many for locking up Kendrys Morales too hastily and not slow-playing the market.

Well, kids, I am here to tell you by midseason, Eddie and the imaginary parrot will be a distant memory after Morales has won the affection of fans from near and far with his tape measure home runs. The 3 year/ $33 million dollar deal Morales signed will be one of the best bargains of the offseason come the fall.

The switch-hitting designated hitter has never played in a homer-friendly confine like the Rogers Centre consistently in his career. Morales hasn’t missed a beat with his new team destroying Grapefruit League pitching hitting .474 with two home runs in 19 at-bats.

Look for Morales to hit .285 with 37 home runs and a century worth of runs batted in in 2017. A stat line that will be better than that of Encarnacion’s once the season has come and gone. Furthermore, manager John Gibbons will utilize Morales at first base more than anyone had anticipated or predicted and it will surprisingly be a success.

Morales the Monster in 2017!

Devon Travis Finally Lives Up To Expectations

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis has been snakebitten, to say the least over the course of the past two seasons. Travis just saw game action for the first time yesterday, getting in some swings in a minor league contest. The timeline is cloudy for Travis as he recovers from a deep bone bruise and offseason knee surgery.

The spark plug has the ability to drag out at-bats and make pitchers work every time he digs into the box. Travis looks old beyond his years with a bat in his hand, and is the perfect compliment to the Blue Jays lineup at the top of the order.

Travis was acquired from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Anthony Gose and even with the injury issues, the Blue Jays have still undoubtedly won the trade.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this year is finally the season Travis remains off the disabled list and contributes at the top of the order for an extended period of time. Travis has .300, 15 HR, 85 RBI potential setting the table for the big boppers.

The next week or so will be the telltale sign whether Travis makes the trip north for opening day. Regardless he is not far off and once healthy, will live up to expectations and put the injury troubles behind him.

Next: Blue Jays seeing what they want from Jose Bautista in WBC