Blue Jays: Building blocks on the current big league roster

The “Just Missed” List

There were a few other players that I thought about including as real building blocks of this team, but I’m not sure how many there really are. You could include some of the relievers like Ryan Tepera or maybe Joe Biagini if he can figure things out, but the bullpen is always such a volatile area of any baseball team.

The ones I did consider adding were Devon Travis, and Yangervis Solarte, two infielders with enough talent to hang around in complementary roles on a winning team. Solarte is under club control for two more seasons after this one, being paid 5.5 million in 2019 and eight million in 2020 before becoming a free agent. Those salaries are both club options, but they seem like a pretty easy bet to be picked up by the Blue Jays, or anywhere else he could land.

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Travis also has two more seasons remaining until he becomes an unrestricted free agent, and he’ll hope to prove he can stay healthy before that day comes. He’s mostly been a very productive hitter when he has been healthy for the Blue Jays, but struggled this year in getting going at the plate overall.

I see both Solarte and Travis as more “stopgap” options than building blocks for this team, and that’s why I’ve included them on the “just missed list”. Both men play second base and Solarte also plays third and a bit elsewhere, and it feels like they could be placeholders for the next generation, if they’re not traded before then. With guys like Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette, Kevin Smith, Cavan Biggio, Lourdes Gurriel, and more waiting in the minor league wings, Solarte and Travis will have to perform well in 2019 and beyond to maintain their roster spot with the Blue Jays, even on a losing team.

I also briefly considered writing a page about Josh Donaldson, mostly because I think his difficult season could lead him into entertaining an extension with the Blue Jays, depending on his free agent market this winter of course. That argument will come another day from me, though.

Next: Jays GM won't show his cards on trade deadline just yet

Did I miss anyone? Is there someone who is a big leaguer now that you see as a future fixture with this team? Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section, as always.