Blue Jays: Plenty of veterans with something to prove

2018 represents a big year for the Blue Jays, and arguably even more important on an individual level for many veteran players.

On one hand, you could argue that what the Blue Jays’ front office has done this offseason has been a little underwhelming. There is a core mostly still in tact that visited the playoffs in 2015 and 2016, and I can understand the argument from some folks that bringing back the bulk of the same roster is foolish if the team wants to win in 2018. As much as guys like Yangervis Solarte, Randal Grichuk, Aledmys Diaz, and Curtis Granderson will help, none of them represent the type of needle moving talent that a Yu Darvish or J.D. Martinez would have.

That said, the roster is chalk full of veterans who have a lot to prove, both to themselves and to the baseball world. Some guys are playing on expiring contracts, while others underperformed in 2017 and will need to prove that they’re more value than they showed last season. Still others will need to prove they can stay healthy for most or all of a MLB season, a task that some find more difficult than others. 2017 was a comedy of errors for the Blue Jays’ roster, and while it’s understandable that this group doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence, there is more upside than most of us are willing to admit.

I’m sure names immediately spring to mind when you read those descriptors, but let’s have a look at the list of Blue Jays veterans who will need to perform in 2018, for one reason or another.

Everyone’s favourite target- Kendrys Morales

One of the most common gripes among Blue Jays fans is the contract and/or performance of DH, Kendrys Morales. Many fans hoped to see the front office re-sign Edwin Encarnacion last winter, but instead they witnessed a three year pact for Morales, who underperformed in 2017, at least by the standards of most observers.

He wasn’t terrible by any means, but he didn’t flourish in the way that Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro had hoped he would, and instead became the type of DH only anchor that can limit a roster, especially an older one like they employed in Toronto. He was also heavily criticized for his elephant-like foot speed, especially on a term full of lead footed baserunners.

Morales has two years and 22 million remaining on his deal, and he’ll need to show both the Blue Jays and the rest of baseball that he can still bring value to the table. Without the ability to add much in the way of defensive value, a designated hitter needs to provide an elite offensive contribution, otherwise they become redundant in a real hurry in today’s game. Baseball is evolving quickly, and with more teams using a DH by committee to rest their lineup regulars, guys like Morales are slowly being phased out of baseball.

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The same will happen for the likeable veteran if he doesn’t prove he can still provide a middle of the order calibre bat. There were some calls for the Blue Jays to eat his contract this offseason, and that could be a more serious consideration next year if things don’t improve. Again, it’s not as if he was terrible in 2017, but with the presence of other veterans like Troy Tulowitzki, Josh Donaldson, and others who could use an occasional day off their feet, justifying a bat-only spot on the roster gets more difficult all the time.

Can he finally take a step forward with the bat?- Kevin Pillar

Much like Morales, Kevin Pillar wasn’t necessarily awful last year, he just didn’t live up to the hopes that either the team or the fan base had for him. He still earned 2.8 bWAR, and provided plenty of value on defence, but he once again struggled to bring a consistent offensive contribution to the table, something that’s been a common theme for him throughout his career.

There are several factors working against “Superman” and his future with the Blue Jays. First, he’ll be 29 next season and while that’s still relatively young, he hasn’t been very kind to his body throughout his young career. He’s routinely crashed into walls and sacrificed himself in order to provide highlight reel entertainment, but it could come at a cost. In fact, some defensive metrics showed that he slowed a little last year, which is a bit of a concern for someone who derives so much of their value from the glove.

There’s also the fact that the Blue Jays had a ton of talent waiting in the minor league wings, and most of the near-MLB ready players are capable of manning centre field. Anthony Alford was listed as #47 and #60 on the MLB Pipeline and Baseball America lists respectively, and should be ready to make the leap to the big leagues at some point in 2018. Teoscar Hernandez was excellent in a September call-up for as well, and is a natural centre fielder. Add in a others like Dalton Pompey, and Randal Grichuk’s experience in centre field, and suddenly Pillar isn’t needed as much as he used to be.

He’ll need to show that he can contribute on offence, and he’ll likely need to do it in the first half of the season, otherwise there could be a change in the Blue Jays’ outfield. When you consider that he’s now on his first seven figure contract as well, he’s going to have to pull his weight on both sides of the ball in order to keep his job for the long term. Baseball can be cruel that way.

Expiring contracts

Josh Donaldson

This is a big year for the Blue Jays in terms of expiring contracts, and there are none bigger than the “Bringer of Rain”. The 2015 AL MVP is unquestionably the best player the Blue Jays currently employ, but they’ll have to determine just how valuable they think he can be after the age of 32.

If anyone wondered if he can still be a game changer, he should have put those doubts to rest in the second half of last season, as he mashed the ball as well as any hitter in the game. That said, teams are growing more reluctant to sign aging veterans to long term deals, so Donaldson will need to prove he’s still worthy of building a team around in order to maximize his next contract.

Marco Estrada

It was a tale of two seasons for the change-up artist last year, and Marco Estrada is hoping for a little more consistency in 2018. There have been reports that he struggled with getting regular sleep in the middle of last season, which could have contributed to his dreadful summer when it appeared he’d forgotten how to pitch.

Fortunately for the Mexican right-hander, he was able to right the ship and prove enough to warrant the Blue Jays bringing him back on a one year deal. He’ll be a pending free agent once again this year, so whether he wants to return to Toronto or secure a multi-year contract elsewhere beyond this year, he’ll want to put his best foot forward, and hopefully one that more closely resembles his 2015-16 performance.

J.A. Happ

Speaking of starting pitchers on expiring deals, J.A. Happ will join Estrada on that list unless the Blue Jays extend him before that times comes. Happ has provided excellent value for the Blue Jays since returning on a three year deal prior to the 2016 season, and quietly had a great year in 2017 around time spent on the disabled list.

If he can stay healthy and pitch the way he has for the last couple of years, Happ should have no problem securing another multi-year deal before his career comes to an end. Of course, he’ll have to do just that first, which can be easier said than done.

Aaron Sanchez

Last but not least, Aaron Sanchez rounds out the list of players that badly need to prove themselves in 2018, although I likely could have added a few more.

The story is very familiar by now, as Sanchez came into the 2017 season expected to anchor the Blue Jays’ rotation, and challenge for the American League Cy Young Award. Unfortunately none of those things happened, as he was limited to just eight starts and 36 innings pitched while dealing with blister, fingernail, and tendon issues on his pitching hand. He hit the disabled list four separate times, and the team and training staff finally decided to shut him down for good in hopes of getting him ready for spring training.

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You won’t find many folks around the game who doubt the power pitcher’s ability, but he’ll need to show some durability in 2018 in order to bring back the buzz around his name. With super-agent Scott Boras working for him, Sanchez is the type of talent who could command a 200+ million contract in three season’s time, but he’ll have to prove he can stay healthy before anyone will consider a long term deal with him, let alone a huge money pact like that.

Hopefully the training staff, Sanchez, and everyone involved learned what they need to about dealing with the issue so that they can put it behind the star pitcher going forward. Sanchez probably represents the biggest wild card regarding the Blue Jays’ upcoming season, and if he can stay healthy a lot of good things will happen for the team, and the talented pitcher.

I considered adding Justin Smoak and talking about how he’ll need to prove 2017 wasn’t just an aberration, or Joe Biagini and his quest to be a starting pitcher, but otherwise who do you feel that I missed? Every big leaguer has something to prove on a year to year basis, but I felt that these eight players in particular will be focused on having a better year this upcoming season, and showing their real value to the baseball world.

Next: The next core could be of championship calibre