Blue Jays: Is Devon Travis the odd man out in 2019?

It is beginning to appear more evident that second baseman Devon Travis may be the odd man out in the Toronto Blue Jays infield logjam in 2019.

The Blue Jays new skipper recently divulged the Devon Travis could see some time in left field this upcoming season which seems like a peculiar fit considering Devo’s injury history. This would suggest that playing time on the infield may be scarce for Travis in 2019.

It was thought after the trade of Aledmys Diaz and the release of Troy Tulowitzki that the Blue Jays were prepared to hand over the shortstop position to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. However, the signing of free agent Freddy Galvis may actually bump Gurriel to second base as Galvis is the premium defender.

The arrival of Bo Bichette will also complicate the shortstop matter but the timeline for Bo is a little less clear. Bichette will presumably begin the season in Triple-A with the Bisons.

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Third base will be spoken for once Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is promoted at the end of May essentially leaving Travis and Brandon Drury without a full-time position.

Gurriel may be the better fit in left-field over Travis having played 40 games there during the Cuban National Series in 2015-16. Mind you adding Gurriel, Travis or Drury to the outfield picture only muddies the water for the likes of Teoscar Hernandez, Billy McKinney, and Anthony Alford.

Travis is going to have to hit to be a factor moving forward, he will need to be much improved over his 2018 stat line where he batted .232/.275/.381 and was mired in an ugly slump to begin the season.

If the 27-year old can channel his former self and once again be the gap hitter and doubles machine he once was, the Jays will be forced to find him a position. For now, Travis may be on the outside looking in going into 2019.