Toronto Blue Jays: The 2019 Roster – Where are they now?

The Toronto Blue Jays are heading to the postseason this year after the COVID-19 pandemic cut the season down from 162 games to just 60.

In a year that many had the Toronto Blue Jays counted out, the young core found a way to win some ball games in 2020, and with a little help from the expanded playoff format, found a way to reach October baseball; a land that hasn’t been seen by the MLB’s only Canadian team since 2016.

Last season, the Toronto Blue Jays limped to the finish line with a paltry 67-95 record, finishing 4th in the A.L. East and finding themselves drafting within the top five in 2020. The team would use 21 different starting pitchers, utilizing different strategies to try and stay competitive during a rebuilding year.

On the positive side, some of the organizations top prospects like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette made their long-awaited appearances, getting their feet wet on the MLB stage for the first time. Cavan Biggio would hit for the cycle and also lead all rookies in the MLB in walks, while Trent Thornton was the innings workhorse that mirrored fellow Blue Jay Ryan Borucki the season prior.

All in all, it was a season that many expected to happen, but one that showed some glimpses of how great the Blue Jays truly could be in just a few years.

That being said, the Blue Jays did utilize quite a few players that are no longer on their roster. Let’s take a step back and look outside the Jays for just a moment, and see just how some players fared this season on new teams, or if they are even playing at all anymore.

Considered to be a rebuilding squad, the Toronto Blue Jays did have quite a few players carry over from the 2019 roster, with many players losing their rookie status and migrating towards becoming sophomores on the MLB stage. Some newcomers on the top prospect list did make an appearance like Nate Pearson and Alejandro Kirk, but fans also saw some veterans disappear from the team, pushed out by management to facilitate a newer, younger squad.

Please note that if the player is still a member of the Blue Jays roster, but is not on the active roster and at the alternate training site, they will not be included. This is just for players who are not affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays this season but were on the active roster (even for just one game) last season. All stats are reflective before Sunday’s games.

The Position Players

Kevin Pillar

One of the last remaining veterans on the roster, Kevin ‘Superman’ Pillar had been a member of the Toronto Blue Jays roster since 2013. In 695 games as a Blue Jay, Pillar not only made spectacular catches in the outfield, he also slashed .260/.297/.396 with 55 home runs and 231 RBI’s. With the organization gearing towards a rebuild, the Blue Jays shipped Pillar off to the San Francisco Giants where he would finish the 2019 season.

In the 2019/2020 off-season, Pillar would sign a one year contract with the Boston Red Sox. On August 31, the Red Sox traded Pillar to the Colorado Rockies, where he has been impressive at the plate with a .288/.336/.462 line with six home runs and 26 RBI’s on the year.

Freddy Galvis

Before the 2019 season, the Toronto Blue Jays would sign veteran infielder Freddy Galvis to a one-year, $4 million contract with a club option for the 2020 season. When Bo Bichette was called up to the big league roster, Galvis’ days were unfortunately numbered, and the Jays would designate him for assignment with the Cincinnati Reds picking him up from waivers on August 12.

This season, Galvis is still with the Reds and has split his time between shortstop and second base. In 45 games this season, the Venezualan native boasts a .221/.307/.412 slash line with seven home runs and 15 RBI’s. Not the greatest numbers, but he will be in the postseason this year with the Reds securing a spot to play in October.

Eric Sogard

Signed to a minor league contract during the 2019 off-season, Eric Sogard battled Richard Urena for the infielder bench role out of spring training, a battle he would end up losing. Fast forward to the middle of April, and Sogard was called to the active roster, where he would go on to slash .300/.363/.477 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 73 games with the Blue Jays. He would be traded to the Tampa Bay Rays just before the deadline for two players to be named later.

In the 2019/2020 off-season, Sogard would sign a one year, $4.5 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. He has unfortunately not found the same success he had last season, slashing just .218/.293/.291 in 41 games for the Brew Crew. Despite finishinig with a 29-31 record, the Brewers managed to secure the last Wild Card spot in the National League.

Justin Smoak 

Another one of the veterans on the roster, first baseman/designated hitter Justin Smoak found both success and struggle when donning the Blue Jays jersey. In 2019, Smoak would play in 121 games, slashing a modest .208/.342/.406 with 22 home runs and 61 RBI’s. Known for his power, Smoak would smash 117 home runs over five seasons as a member of the Blue Jays.

The Toronto Blue Jays would let the veteran walk after the 2019 season, with the switch-hitter inking a one year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. He would struggle as a Brewer, putting together a .186/.262/.381 slash line in 33 games. He was released by the Brewers at the start of September, eventually signing a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants and being added to the active roster. In six at-bats with the Giants, Smoak would not have a hit or walk and would be designated for assignment on September 21.

Luke Maile

The back-up catcher for the Blue Jays since 2017, Luke Maile struggled in 2019, gathering just 18 hits in 119 at-bats over 44 games last season.

He would become a free agent at the end of the season and sign a one year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Maile did play a game this season, as he underwent season-ending finger surgery on July 18 after being hit by a pitch during the Pirates Summer Camp.

Best of the Rest

Remember these names: Alen Hanson, Richard Urena, Socrates Brito, and Beau Taylor?

Urena would be DFA’d by the Blue Jays after the 2019 season and would sign a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles. He would be DFA’d by the Orioles on February 10th and is currently a free agent.

Hanson would sign a minor league deal with Seattle Mariners during the off-season but would be released by the Mariners on June 25th. Hanson is also currently a free agent.

Now a member of the Cleveland Indians, Taylor is the only member of the group to play pro ball this season. In just seven games, Taylor has accumulated a .048/.130./.048 slash line with nine strikeouts in 21 at-bats.

Socrates Brito would sign a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 2019 season. While as a member of the Pirates, Brito would be diagnosed with COVID-19 and would eventually opt out of the 2020 season in early September after his brother passed away from the virus. Condolences to the Brito family.

Former Starting Pitchers

Marcus Stroman

Drafted by the Blue Jays in 2012, Marcus Stroman was having a fantastic season for them in 2019, pitching to a 2.96 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 21 games started. The relationship between Stroman and the front office soured over time, as the two sides could not agree on a contract extension, so the organization shipped him off to the New York Mets at the trade deadline in exchange for Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson.

In 2020, Stroman was going to be a part of the Mets starting rotation until he tore his calf muscle during the Summer Camp. Midway through August, Stroman decided to opt-out for the remainder of the 2020 season citing the COVID-19 pandemic, and will now become a free agent later this year. He did not pitch during the 2020 season.

Aaron Sanchez

Aaron Sanchez was one of the longest-tenured Blue Jays heading into the 2019 season, having been drafted by the organization in 2010. Injuries have plagued him his entire pro career, and the right-hander was having a bit of a down year for the Blue Jays last season. He would end up being traded at the deadline to the Houston Astros as one of the pieces for outfielder Derek Fisher.

While he did help pitch in a combined no-hitter for the Astros last season, he would finish the season on the injured list once again and would have to undergo shoulder surgery. Sanchez was non-tendered by the Astros during the off-season and is currently a free agent.

Edwin Jackson

The name that brings back a few bad memories.

Edwin Jackson was brought in to help the Blue Jays when the starting rotation kept going down with injuries. He would pitch not so well with the Jays, crafting a lofty 11.12 ERA while giving up 35 earned runs in just 28.1 innings of work.

The Blue Jays would release Jackson after being DFA’d and would join the Detroit Tigers shortly after. He would join the Arizona Diamondbacks as a non-roster invitee to spring training during the off-season but would be released by the organization on June 1. He is currently a free agent.

Clayton Richard

Traded North of the border during the off-season, Clayton Richard had a bit of a rough go as a member of the Blue Jays. He would throw to a 5.96 ERA with only 22 strikeouts in 45.1 innings of work over the course of 10 starts. He would spend some time on the IL before the season began and would be released by the team midway through September.

A free agent to begin the 2020 season, Richard would sign a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox on August 3. He has not pitched in the MLB this season.

Clay Buchholz

Another veteran signee before the 2019 season, Clay Buchholz would also have a rough year as a member of the Blue Jays. Dogged by a shoulder injury for most of the season, Buchholz would pitch in just 12 games and would finish the year with a 6.56 ERA and a 1.492 WHIP with 39 strikeouts and 16 walks.

The Blue Jays would let him walk after the season was over and he is currently a free agent.

Former Relievers Continued

Javy Guerra

Not to be confused with the San Diego Padre, Javy Guerra only pitched in 11 games for the Blue Jays, throwing to a 3.86 ERA during that time. He would be designated for assignment in mid-May and would be picked up by the Washington Nationals, riding the bus between AAA and the MLB for the rest of the season.

For 2020, Guerra resigned with the Nationals on a minor league contract. In 14 games this year, the Texas native has accumulated a 4.02 ERA with 13 strikeouts, seven walks, and a 1.660 WHIP. He is currently on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring injury.

Nick Kingham

Acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Nick Kingham pitched in 11 games for the Blue Jays. He would throw to a 3.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts and eight walks before being DFA’d multiple times and eventually outright released in late August.

In the off-season, Kingham signed with SK Wayerns in the Korean Baseball Organization. He would struggle while playing across the Pacific Ocean, throwing to a 6.75 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP in just two games. Kingham’s time in South Korea would be short-lived as he was released on July 3 and is currently a free agent.

The 10 games or less crew

Brock Stewart

In ten games with the Blue Jays, Stewart would be picked up by the Chicago Cubs affiliate Iowa Cubs when he was sent back to AAA from the active roster. He was invited to spring training the next season in Chicago but was released on May 28. He is currently a free agent.

Zack Godley

A veteran pickup by the Blue Jays last season, Godley elected free agency at the end of the 2019 season. He would sign a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers this past off-season, but would be released during Summer Camp and ended up signing another minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox, where he would pitch in eight games and earned an 8.16 ERA. He is currently on the 60-day injured list.

Neil Ramirez

Ramirez would pitch to a 5.40 ERA and a 1.680 WHIP in six games with the Blue Jays. He would become a free agent at the end of the 2019 season and went on to sign a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He was released by the Angels on September 1 and has not appeared in an MLB game this season.

Ryan Feierabend

The man with the last name as complicated as mine, Ryan Feierabend pitched in two games for the Blue Jays last season, earning an 11.12 ERA with four strikeouts and two home runs. He would elect free agency at the end of 2019 and is now playing in the Chinese Professional Baseball League with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions. With the Lions, Feierabend pitched to a 4.74 ERA with 55 strikeouts, starting in 10 of the 11 games he has pitched in. He would part ways from the team in late June citing the COVID-19 pandemic and is now back in the United States.

Zac Rosscup

Zac Rosscup bounced around last season, playing for three different teams across the league. He would only play in the two games for the Blue Jays before being DFA’d. He is currently a member of the Colorado Rockies and has not pitched in an MLB game this season.

Jimmy Cordero

Another pitcher who played for multiple teams last year, Jimmy Cordero pitched 1.1 innings for the Blue Jays, giving up one home run with no strikeouts or walks. He is currently a member of the Chicago White Sox and was recently suspended three games for throwing at Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras.