Blue Jays: What to do with Ryan Goins

Should the Blue Jays consider starting Goins at second base?

With Tulowitzki’s impending return, eventually Ryan Goins won’t be the full time starter at shortstop. Yes, he’s incredible on defence, but frankly, so is Tulo and moving him from there isn’t an option at this stage of his career.

However, Goins has proven himself more than capable at pretty much any defensive position he plays, with second base being his other most common position. As we all know, Devon Travis currently occupies the starting second base gig, and has started to look better at the plate lately as well. That said, should the Blue Jays consider bumping him in favour of Goins?

Travis’ defence is pretty solid and seems to be improving all the time, but he’s no Ryan Goins with the glove. If he’s not going to hit the way he has over the last two seasons (when healthy), then it makes it more and more difficult to keep Goins and/or Darwin Barney on the bench in his favour.

Ideally for the Jays, Travis will start to swing the bat like he has in the past, but if he continues to struggle it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising to see Goins see more time at second. He was the regular starter in 2015 after Travis’ season-ending injury, and hit .252 that season. While that’s nothing to write home about, it’s more than adequate if you play defence the way he does.

If he could hit .250 or better on a consistent basis there are plenty of teams around baseball that would start him on a regular basis. And on that note….