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Blue Jays: What signing Freddy Galvis means for the other shortstops

By Chris Henderson

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: Freddy Galvis #13 of the San Diego Padres scores on a sacrifice fly from Wil Myers #4 against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the third inning at AT&T Park on September 26, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: Freddy Galvis #13 of the San Diego Padres scores on a sacrifice fly from Wil Myers #4 against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the third inning at AT&T Park on September 26, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 11: Devon Travis #29 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a single in the fifth inning during MLB game action against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre on August 11, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 11: Devon Travis #29 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a single in the fifth inning during MLB game action against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre on August 11, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Devon Travis

I snuck Devon Travis into this article, even though he’s not a shortstop. I did that because I believe there’s potential that he could be greatly affected by Galvis’ signing as well, just like the rest of the players mentioned on this list.

What’s working against the four-year Blue Jay is his injury history, and his lack of positional flexibility. We’ve already talked about how Gurriel Jr. and Urena can move around the diamond, and the same can be said for Brandon Drury as well. The 26 year old played both second and third base last season, and he also has some experience in the outfield in the past as well. Unfortunately it’s not a resume piece that Travis can bring to the table like his other infield counterparts.

To start the year the Blue Jays are going to have room for either 12 or 13 position players on their 25 man roster, depending on how many bullpen arms they choose to carry. Let’s assume they go with 13, and that no major trades happen before the season opens. They’ll need to have room for:

C– Danny Jansen, Luke Maile (or maybe Reese McGuire)

1B– Justin Smoak (and maybe Rowdy Tellez)

2B– Travis, Drury, Galvis, Urena

SS– Gurriel Jr., Galvis, Urena

3B– Drury

OF– Kevin Pillar, Randal Grichuk, Teoscar Hernandez, Billy McKinney

DH– Kendrys Morales

Right now that 25th roster spot likely comes down to a decision between carrying Urena, Tellez, or maybe a fifth outfielder like Dalton Pompey, Dwight Smith Jr., or Jonathan Davis. Pompey is out of minor league options and remains on the 40 man roster, so the club could lean in his direction if they don’t make a different move before Opening Day.

Where it gets more complicated, especially for Travis, is when Vladimir Guerrero Jr, arrives in the big leagues. The #1 prospect in baseball is going to take over full-time duties at third base when he’s promoted, and that’s going to lead to a logjam up the middle and a situation where Travis could be watching from the bench a lot more than he’d like, or maybe worse.

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