Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training: 5 Bold Predictions

Feb 27, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Players line the baselines before the Philadelphia Phillies play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training exhibition game at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

A year removed from sky-high expectations and staggering disappointment, the Toronto Blue Jays face a tremendous uphill battle in 2014. That’s bound to happen when you play in a division that is home to the 2013 World Series Champions, a perennial wild card contender, the game’s deepest pockets, and an upstart franchise looking to correct years of losing.

Unlike those team however, the Blue jays did next to nothing to improve their squad over the winter. While the goals of improving at catcher, second base, and most importantly in the rotation were well known, Toronto decided to stay the course with internal options (outside of the Dioner Navarro acquisition). Whether that was a sign of confidence in what the front office had hoped for from the 2013 squad actually coming to fruition a year later, we’ll have to wait and see.

However, you can see in this year’s squad something that was missing a year ago: hunger. They feel the need to prove the naysayers wrong, that this team was that was supposed to be great can rise above defeat(s) and challenge baseball’s toughest division. From Jose Reyes to Jose Bautista to Brandon Morrow, the drive to succeed is resonating.

But will hunger and drive be enough for this team to find success on the field? I’m not so sure, but it will be fun to watch.

With that in mind, I took a look at this year’s squad and made five bold predictions for what we can expect to see from this team when the dust settles from Spring Training. What happens during the regular season will remain to be seen, but these will be the things that help decide that.

Feb 19, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

(36) throws as the Blue Jays workout at the

Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Hutchison Will Win The 5^th Starter Job

Hutchison looked great during his first start of the spring, an intrasquad match-up where he faced off against fellow 5th starter competitor Marcus Stroman. He’s got a great track record in the minor leagues and was enjoying a fine rookie season in 2012 when Tommy John stepped in the way, posting a respectable 5-3 record, a 4.60 ERA, and a 7.5 K/9 ratio in 11 starts. His minor league track record profiles him as a strike-thrower and he has a solid repertoire of pitches to pull from (Fastball, Change-up, Slider) that will help him succeed at the big level.

Why will he win the job?

He’s arguably more advanced that Kyle Drabek, both in development and in his return from Tommy John. Toronto also saw a lot more of Esmil Rogers than they truly cared to in 2013, something they would like to avoid in 2014. That leaves Stroman and Todd Redmond as the biggest points of competition. However, while they aren’t coming right out and saying it, the Blue Jays would prefer that both Stroman and Sean Nolin return to the minors, getting a look at Triple-A hitters before facing live bats in the Major Leagues consistently. As for Redmond, he gave the Blue Jays a lot in 2013, but there’s a reason he struggled to get his opportunity at the big league level, and it is doubtful he’d be able to duplicate the magic again in 2014.

Sep 20, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop

(7) throws out Toronto Blue Jays player

from his knees during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays Will Sign Stephen Drew Before Camp Breaks

This one is a bit of a reach, as the team really has no discernible need to sign Drew. However, if I am a betting man and if I know Scott Boras well enough, that slimy rat will find a way to get the Blue Jays to bite on Drew as their option at second base. Just look at what Boras did with Washington a year ago.

After convincing Rafael Soriano to exercise his opt-out with the Yankees, the reliever sat long into the winter waiting for a contract to land. Boras, getting desperate, went to the Washington Nationals and fed off of the blown saves the team experienced in their postseason loss to the Cardinals, convincing their OWNERSHIP that an upgrade would get them over the top. The Nationals ended up giving him a 2-year, $22 million deal.

Stephen Drew now finds himself in a similar situation and accordingly, Boras has taken to trying to push his client on a team in need. Granted, he doesn’t have the same kind of relationship with the Blue Jays front office as he did in Washington, but he does find a way to make his case.

For his part, Drew put up an exceptional season for the Red Sox a season ago, hitting .253/.333/.443 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI in 124 games. He plays outstanding defense (UZR/150  of 6.7) and if he’s willing to make the move to second on a deferred-money deal, that may be enough for Toronto.

The Blue Jays will take a good look at Ryan Goins first, as well as Maicer Izturis, to make sure that the internal options are going to hold up or not. Meanwhile, Drew isn’t going anywhere soon, so the Blue Jays have time to evaluate, but I have a gut feeling.

Feb 27, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder

bats agaianst the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training exhibition game at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

Moises Sierra Will Win The Back-Up Outfielder Role

Perhaps this one isn’t as bold as it should be. The fact of the matter here is that now is put up or shut up time for Moises Sierra. A man out of options, Sierra has everything to lose by not laying claim to this spot and the Blue Jays are going to give him every opportunity to make the team. They’ve already shown that by batting him second against Cliff Lee on Thursday and also by giving him reps at first base as well.

If he hits like he did during his call-up in 2013, when he put up a .290/.369/.458 slash-line in 35 games and 122 plate appearances, Moises could find his way onto this team. However, to see extended time in the outfield, he’ll have to overcome some of the defensive lapses that have become his calling card.

Sierra will face stiff competition from Anthony Gose, as Gose gives the team more flexibility with his game-breaking speed and ability to man all three outfield spots (Sierra has no place in center field), but the Blue Jays have shown in the past that they are a slave to minor league options. With Sierra having none left, he’ll get the nod but it will come with a short leash.

Sep 8, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher

(21) pitches during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Blue Jays won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Will Trade A Reliever Before Opening Day

If there is one commodity that the Blue Jays have in droves, it is relievers. Heading into the winter, the team was adamant that they would exploit that strength to shore up other areas of need. However, as we all saw, that never really came into fruition, as the watered-down relief market made it tough to put a good value on the Jays arms.

However, with Spring Training upon us, team needs arise and available options dwindle, so the Blue Jays will field plenty of calls from needy GM’s looking to resolve an injury or depth issue.

With Casey Janssen and Sergio Santos in the pen, the Blue Jays could have a great back-end for games. However, they also have a redundant commodity there, in having two closers. The team also faces issue with other relievers like Jeremy Jeffress, Luis Perez, Dustin McGowan, and Todd Redmond who are out of options, further complicating the bullpen picture.

By moving one or more of those arms, the team addresses that issue while also addressing an area of need. All they need is a buyer.