Toronto Blue Jays 2016 ALCS Roster: Where are they now?

J.A. Happ

2016 Stats: 32 games started; 3.18 ERA; 1.169 WHIP; 163 strikeouts

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 1 game started; 3.60 ERA; 1.000 WHIP; 4 strikeouts

2020 Stats: 9 games started; 3.47 ERA; 1.295 WHIP; 42 strikeouts

In his second stint with the Toronto Blue Jays, J.A. Happ had a fantastic 2016 season for the team. Leading the Blue Jays in wins at 20, Happ would also tie Stroman for games started at 32 and finish sixth in Cy Young voting within the American League. The left-hander would pitch well in the 2016 playoffs, winning his ALDS start and losing his ALCS start, giving up only two runs while the Blue Jays could only muster one run in support.

Happ would be traded in 2018 to the New York Yankees, where he has spent the past two seasons. The Yankees would decline his vesting option this off-season and Happ is now currently a free agent.

Aaron Sanchez

2016 Stats: 30 games started; 3.00 ERA; 1.167 WHIP; 161 strikeouts

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 1 game started; 1.50 ERA; 0.667 WHIP; 5 strikeouts

2020 Stats: N/A

Another top pitching prospect in the Blue Jays organization at the time, Aaron Sanchez had a breakout year in 2016. Leading the American League with the lowest starting pitcher ERA at 3.00, Sanchez would represent the team at the all-star game and finish in seventh for the Cy-Young award. Sanchez would win the only game for the Blue Jays in the ALCS, going 6.0 innings and giving up only one earned run as the team erupted for five runs against the Cleveland Indians.

Sanchez would be traded at the 2019 deadline to the Houston Astros, where he would immediately contribute to a combined no-hitter just days after joining the team. The Astros would non-tender the right-hander at the end of the 2019 season as Sanchez was set to undergo shoulder surgery that was expected to keep him sidelined for a considerable amount of the 2020 season. He is currently a free agent.

Francisco Liriano

2016 Stats (only Blue Jays stats): 8 games started (10 appearances); 2.92 ERA; 1.176 WHIP; 52 strikeouts

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: N/A

2020 Stats: N/A

Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays from the Pittsburgh Pirates as a salary dump, Francisco Liriano was a veteran piece added to the roster to help with the playoff run. Liriano would pitch eight games in the rotation and two more games out of the bullpen, pitching 49.1 innings and going 2-2. Liriano would take a line drive off the head during his appearance in the ALDS against the Texas Rangers, and while he would be added to the ALCS roster, he would not make an appearance.

Liriano would eventually be traded to the Houston Astros in 2017 and would bounce to the Detroit Tigers and back to Pittsburgh before signing a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2020 season. He would opt out before the start of the 2020 campaign due to the coronavirus but wants to continue playing in 2021.

Relief Pitchers

Joe Biagini

2016 Stats: 60 appearances; 3.06 ERA; 1.300 WHIP; 62 strikeouts

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 3 appearances; 0.00 ERA; 0.545 WHIP; 3 strikeouts

2020 Stats: 4 appearances; 20.77 ERA: 3.231 WHIP; 4 strikeouts

Acquired by the Blue Jays during the Rule 5 Draft in the 2015/2016 off-season, Joe Biagini was a shining star in the 2016 Blue Jays bullpen. He would be second on the team in appearances (60) and had one of the best ERA on the team amongst relief pitchers. In three appearances during the 2016 ALCS, Biagini would only allow one hit and would give up zero runs while giving up one walk with three strikeouts.

Biagini would be traded alongside Aaron Sanchez to the Houston Astros and would also contribute to the combined no-hitter just days after being acquired. The 2020 season was not kind to Biagini, as he would give up ten earned runs in just 4.1 innings of work. Biagini would find himself shuttling between the alternate training site and the MLB roster all season before being designated for assignment at the end of the year.

This off-season, Biagini has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs for the 2021 season.

Brett Cecil

2016 Stats: 54 appearances; 3.93 ERA; 1.282 WHIP; 45 strikeouts

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 3 appearances; 0.00 ERA; 0.300 WHIP; 4 strikeouts

2020 Stats: N/A

One of the key pitchers on the Blue Jays roster since 2009, Brett Cecil spent time in the rotation and in the bullpen before becoming a full-time reliever in 2013 (the same year he represented the Blue Jays at the All-Star Game). One of the top left-handed arms in the Blue Jays bullpen at the time, Cecil would make three appearances in the 2016 ALCS, going 3.1 innings allowing zero runs, one walk, and four strikeouts.

Cecil would leave the Jays after the 2016 season and sign with the St. Louis Cardinals on a four-year, $30.5 million deal.  He would spend the entire 2019 season on the injured list and would be released before the start of the 2020 season after experimenting with a new sidearm delivery. The left-hander is currently a free agent.

Jason Grilli

2016 Stats (Blue Jay’s stats only): 46 appearances; 3.64 ERA; 1.119 WHIP; 58 strikeouts

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 2 appearances; 0.00 ERA; 0.600 WHIP; 1 strikeouts

2020 Stats: N/A

Another veteran acquisition to the Blue Jays bullpen in late May of 2016, Jason Grilli became a fan favourite due to his fiery personality and his leadership in the locker room. He would pitch well over the course of the season and continue pitching well throughout the entire postseason. In the ALCS, he would throw 1.2 innings over two appearances giving up only one hit with zero walks and one strikeout.

Grilli would be designated for assignment halfway through the 2017 season and would be traded to the Texas Rangers, where he would finish the season. While he has never officially retired, the veteran pitcher now resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has started to give back to the community by building and maintaining local baseball fields within the area.

Aaron Loup

2016 Stats: 21 appearances; 5.02 ERA; 1.326 WHIP; 15 strikeouts

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: N/A

2020 Stats: 24 appearances; 2.52 ERA; 0.840 WHIP; 22 strikeouts

Another southpaw in the Blue Jays bullpen, Aaron Loup was used as a specialist against left-handed hitters and logged quite a few innings for the team during his seven-year tenure. Loup would begin the season on the injured list and wouldn’t make his debut until May 28th. He would bounce between AAA and the MLB all season, and while he was on the 2016 ALCS roster, he would not make an appearance.

Loup would be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 and would spend 2019 with the San Diego Padres before signing with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020. While the Rays would lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2020 World Series, Loup had a pretty successful season. He is currently a free agent but will most likely be picked up before the start of the upcoming season.

Roberto Osuna

2016 Stats: 72 appearances; 2.68 ERA; 0.932 WHIP; 82 strikeouts

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 4 appearances; 0.00 ERA; 0.750 WHIP; 4 strikeouts

2020 Stats: 4 appearances; 2.08 ERA; 0.692 WHIP; 3 strikeouts

The Blue Jays young hard-throwing closer, Roberto Osuna finished the 2016 season with the most appearances in the Blue Jays pitching staff (72) and would finish the season with 36 saves. While he did not pick up a save in the 2016 ALCS (the Jays only won one game and it was not a save situation), he did appear in four out of five games in the series. He didn’t surrender a run while giving up three hits and four strikeouts.

Osuna would be charged with assaulting his three-year-old son’s mother on May 8th, 2018, and while the eventual charge against him would be dropped, the right-hander would never pitch for the Blue Jays again. Once his 75 game suspension was nearing over, the Jays traded him to the Houston Astros later that season and he was not well regarded in Toronto from then on.

Osuna would be placed on the IL in early August of 2020 and would miss the remainder of the season with a partially torn ACL in his right arm. He would attempt to rehab his injury instead of having Tommy John surgery but not before the Astros non-tendered/outright waivered Osuna at the end of the season and he elected free agency. Osuna is currently a free agent.

Ryan Tepera

2016 Stats: 20 appearances; 2.95 ERA; 1.364 WHIP; 18 strikeouts

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: N/A

2020 Stats: 21 appearances; 3.92 ERA; 1.403 WHIP; 31 strikeouts

Drafted by the Blue Jays in 2009, Ryan Tepera made his debut in 2015 and would pitch with the organization for five years. In 2016, Tepera rode the option bus all season between AAA Buffalo and the MLB but did pitch well enough to find himself on the ALCS roster. He did not make an appearance against the Cleveland Indians during the 5 game series.

An elbow injury midway through 2019 saw Tepera miss most of the season, but the Blue Jays would end up designating him for assignment after the World Series. He would sign a one year deal with the Chicago Cubs for 2020 and would also be non-tendered at the end of the year. He is currently a free agent.

Russell Martin – Catcher

2016 Stats: 535 plate appearances; .240/.329/.458; 0.733 OPS; 23 home runs; 77 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 18 plate appearances; .118/.167/.118; 0.284 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats: N/A

A year removed from joining the Toronto Blue Jays and making the All-Star team, Russell Martin had an alright season both in the batter’s box and behind the plate in 2016. His .996 fielding percentage was impressive but his 15% runners caught stealing stat was a significant step back compared to years prior. His slash line is not going to blow anyone away, but the 23 home runs were the highest of his career. Like many of his Blue Jays counterparts, he was a bit lackluster in the 2016 ALCS, contributing zero runs and zero RBI over 18 plate appearances while striking out nine times.

Martin would be traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 2019 season and would become a free agent at the end of the year. While the right-hander did have some offers from teams across the league, the veteran was holding out for the right deal and did not sign with anyone for 2020. He is currently a free agent and has not made any indication that he is planning to retire.

Dioner Navarro – Catcher

2016 Stats (Blue Jay’s stats only): 36 plate appearances; .182/.250/.182; 0.432 OPS; 0 home runs; 3 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 2 plate appearances; 1.000/1.000/1.000; 2.000 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats: N/A

Acquired in late August of 2016, Dioner Navarro was the catching depth and the switch-hitting bat that the Blue Jays wanted on the bench for their eventual playoff run. He saw limited action in his second time around with the Jays, but his two plate appearances in the ALCS both resulted in hits, making him perfect in his limited action.

After 2016, he stepped away from baseball for a brief period of time after his wife experienced some medical issues. Navarro did spend suit up with the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League of Professional baseball and even signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians in 2019, but was released later that season. Navarro is currently a free agent.

Darwin Barney – Second Base/Third Base/Shortstop

2016 Stats: 306 plate appearances; .269/.322/.373; .695 OPS; 4 home runs; 19 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 8 plate appearances; .125/.125/.125; .250 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats: N/A

A utility bench piece acquired in August of 2015 from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Darwin Barney was a solid player who ended up playing a significant amount of games in 2016. He would see action in 104 games spread out along third base, second base, shortstop, and a couple of trips to left field as well. His postseason stats were less impressive, as he would slash .067/.125/.067 across 16 plate appearances in the 2016 ALDS and ALCS, mustering only one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts.

Barney would play one more season with the Jays after 2016 and would go on to sign a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers for the 2018 season, but would be released before the season began.

Before the start of 2020, Barney was named the manager of the Nashville Sounds, the Texas Rangers AAA affiliate at the time. It now appears that he may no longer be in that role given that the Sounds are no longer affiliated with the Rangers as well as COVID-19 shutting down the MiLB season. The team currently has no staff listed on their website but the news bulletin announcing him is still present.

He recently accepted a position to be the camp coordinator and a volunteer assistant coach for Oregon State as well as part being the Chief Baseball Advisor for the Portland Diamond Project, a group aimed at bringing an MLB team to Portland, Oregon.

Josh Donaldson – Third Baseman

2016 Stats: 700 plate appearances; .284/.404/.549; .953 OPS; 37 home runs; 99 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 20 plate appearances; .333/.400/.556; .956 OPS; 1 home run; 2 RBI

2020 Stats: 102 plate appearances; .222/.373/.469; .842 OPS; 6 home runs; 11 RBI

It was in late November 2014 when the ‘Bringer of Rain’ made a splashdown in Toronto. The Toronto Blue Jays made a monster trade, sending four players to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for the third baseman Josh Donaldson. Donaldson would have an immediate impact on the roster, winning the 2015 A.L. MVP award in his first season with the Blue Jays and cruising to two straight All-Star appearances. You probably remember Donaldson’s heroics in the 2016 ALDS rather than his stats in the ALCS, as he slid home to beat the tag and send the Texas Rangers home in just three games. The ALCS would still be kind to Donaldson, in that he was one of the only Blue Jays players to hit a home run and have a solid slash line against a dangerous Cleveland Indians rotation.

Nearing free agency at the end of the 2018 season, the Blue Jays would ship Donaldson to the Cleveland Indians at the trade deadline for prospect Julian Merryweather. He would play for the Atlanta Braves in the 2019 season before signing a four-year deal worth $92 million (with a fifth-year option) with the Minnesota Twins just before the 2020 campaign. The 2021 season will be his second year into that deal.

Edwin Encarnacion – First Base/Designated Hitter

2016 Stats: 702 plate appearances; .263/.357/.529; .886 OPS; 42 home runs; 127 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 20 plate appearances; .211/.250/.263; .513 OPS; 0 home runs; 2 RBI

2020 Stats: 181 plate appearances; .157/.250/.377; .627 OPS; 10 home runs; 19 RBI

Known for his power stroke in the batter’s box, Edwin Encarnacion had a terrific eight-year tenure as a Toronto Blue Jay. Acquired in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds in 2009, Encarnacion was well known for his power at the plate, smacking 239 home runs in 999 games with the Blue Jays. The Dominican Republic native entered Blue Jays history due to his walk-off home run during the 2016 Wild Card game against the Baltimore Orioles. That magic did not carry over to the ALCS, where he would muster 4 hits and 2 RBI’s, while also striking out 4 times against the Cleveland Indians.

Encarnacion would leave the following off-season, signing a 3 year $60 million deal with the Cleveland Indians with an option in place for the fourth year. The right-handed slugger has bounced around to a few different teams over the past few seasons, suiting up for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and most recently with the Chicago White Sox. The Sox would decline Encarnacion’s option for the 2021 season and he is currently a free agent.

Ryan Goins – Second Base/Shortstop

2016 Stats: 196 plate appearances; .186/.228/.306; .534 OPS; 3 home runs; 12 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 6 plate appearances; .200/.333/.200; .533 OPS; 0 home runs; 1 RBI

2020 Stats: 10 plate appearances; .000/.100/.000; .100 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

A defensive-minded middle infielder, Ryan Goins was another internal Blue Jays prospect whose role as bench player evolved when other players went down with injuries. When Devon Travis and Troy Tulowitzki went down with injuries throughout the 2016 season, Goins was moved in as the primary option at second base and shortstop until he himself went on the injured list at the start of July. Goins would not be utilized during the 2016 playoffs until the ALCS (he was on the WC roster but not the Division Series roster), where he would have 6 plate appearances and would gather 1 hit, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts with 1 RBI.

Goins would be non-tendered by the Blue Jays after the 2017 season and would spend 2018 in Kansas City and then 2019 with the Chicago White Sox. He would then sign and be released by the Oakland Athletics before the start of the 2020 season and be picked back up again by the White Sox on a one year deal. Goins would be outrighted to the White Sox alternate site at the start of September 2020 after a miserable start to the campaign and is now currently a free agent.

Troy Tulowitzki – Shortstop

2016 Stats: 544 plate appearances; .254/.318/.443; .761 OPS; 24 home runs; 79 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 20 plate appearances; .111/.200/.111; .311 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats: N/A

Acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Colorado Rockies in 2015, Troy Tulowitzki was one of the top shortstops in the MLB when he became a Toronto Blue Jay. A two time gold glove winner in Colorado, Tulowitzki’s tenure as a Blue Jay had some ups and downs. He would go down with quite a few injuries over his 4 years with the Blue Jays, missing the entire 2018 season because of bone spurs in his heels. He would have a great 2016 ALDS (.462/.462/.846 with one home run and five RBI) but a lackluster ALCS, mustering only two hits while striking out twice with two walks.

The Blue Jays would release Tulo in the 2018/2019 off-season (writing off his salary in the process) and he would go on to sign with the New York Yankees, a tenure that lasted only five games before he found himself on the injured list again. The right-hander would retire later that summer and is now an assistant coach with the University of Texas Longhorns baseball team.

Devon Travis – Second Base

2016 Stats: 432 plate appearances; .300/.332/.454; .785 OPS; 11 home runs; 50 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 2 plate appearances; .000/.000/.000; .000 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats: N/A

The Blue Jays had high hopes for Devon Travis when they acquired him from the Detroit Tigers, but he could never shake the injury bug that haunted him for most of his career. After an injury-plagued 2015 season, Travis would start the 2016 season back on the injured list before debuting in May, playing a majority of the campaign before finding himself back on the IL during the Blue Jays playoff run. He would eventually be dropped from the ALCS roster and replaced by Justin Smoak, which ended Travis’s season.

The right-hander would play another 153 games for the Blue Jays over the next two seasons and would begin the 2019 season on the IL once again. He would not make an appearance all season and would eventually become a free agent as he rejected an assignment to AAA. He is currently a free agent.

Justin Smoak – First base/Designated Hitter

2016 Stats: 341 plate appearances; .217/.314/.391; .705 OPS; 14 home runs; 34 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 1 plate appearances; .000/.000/.000; .000 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats: 132 plate appearances; .176/.250/.361; .611 OPS; 5 home runs; 15 RBI

A former first-round pick of the Texas Rangers, the switch-hitting Justin Smoak found his way to the Blue Jays from waivers via the Seattle Mariners during the 2014/2015 off-season. While a fan favourite on the field and a bonafide leader in the clubhouse, Smoak time in Toronto was not always sunshine and rainbows. He would originally be left off the 2016 ALCS roster until Devon Travis went down with an injury. The South Carolina native would make 1 plate appearance against the Indians, striking out in the process.

Smoak would play with the Blue Jays until the end of 2019, as the organization was moving away from their veteran players and the first baseman was becoming a free agent that off-season. He would sign with the Milwaukee Brewers but would be designated for assignment later that season, making a brief stop in San Francisco before the end of the year. Smoak is now taking his talents overseas, as he is set to sign a deal with Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, a deal worth $6-7 million.

Jose Bautista – Right Field

2016 Stats: 517 plate appearances; .234/.366/.452; .817 OPS; 22 home runs; 69 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 21 plate appearances; .167/.286/.222; .508 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats: N/A

A prominent figure in Toronto Blue Jays history, Jose Bautista went into 2016 with 6 consecutive all-star appearances and a few silver sluggers under his belt as a member of Canada’s only MLB team. Bautista would miss some time due to turf toe but still found a way to crank out 22 home runs in 116 games. While the year prior would feature Bautista’s famous bat flip, the 2016 playoff run was a bit more lackluster in comparison. He would only muster three hits in 21 plate appearances while striking out seven times.

The outfielder would become a free agent after the 2017 season and would play for the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 before becoming a free agent once again. Although he did not play for anyone in 2020, Bautista turned some heads as he was trying to make it as a two-way player, taking some reps on the mound in hopes of returning to the major leagues. He is currently a free agent.

Ezequiel Carrera – Left field/ Right Field

2016 Stats: 310 plate appearances; .248/.323/.356; .679 OPS; 6 home runs; 23 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 17 plate appearances; .235/.235/.471; .706 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats (Venezuelan Winter League): 59 plate appearances; .164/.220/.200; .420 OPS; 0 home runs; 3 RBI

A bench player to begin the season, Ezequiel Carrera found himself in a more important role midway through the year, playing more games due to injuries to the outfield core. Carrera would have an alright season, finding himself making the playoff roster and starting every playoff game in 2016. The ALDS saw Carrera put up better numbers (.333/.429/.583 with one home run and one RBI) but the Venezuelan native did hit two triples and one RBI while only striking out four times in the ALCS.

Carrera would be released by the Blue Jays just before the 2018 season and would play for the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets farm systems to complete the year. In 2019, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Carrera to a minor league contract and he would toil in the minor leagues before being released midway through the season.

After being released by the Dodgers, Carrera would play for the Long Island Ducks and the Rockland Boulders in the Independent League(s) to finish the 2019 season. He would not sign with any team for the 2020 campaign (mostly due to there being no MiLB season) but is currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League with the Navegantes de Magnalles, where he has a .164/.220/.200 line with 0 home runs and 3 RBI in 59 plate appearances.

Kevin Pillar – Center Field

2016 Stats: 584 plate appearances; .266/.303/.376; .679 OPS; 7 home runs; 53 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 18 plate appearances; .063/.111/.063; .174 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats: 223 plate appearances; .288/.336/.462; .798 OPS; 6 home runs; 26 RBI

Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 32nd round of the 2011 amateur draft, Kevin Pillar is a true testament to how players can grind their way to MLB even if they are drafted in the later rounds. A defensive-minded center fielder, Pillar was well known for his highlight-reel diving catches and his eye black and high socks. His ALCS numbers are ones he would probably like to forget, as mustered one hit in his 18 plate appearances, striking out four times with only one walk.

Another veteran caught in the crosshairs during the Blue Jays rebuild, Pillar would be traded to the San Francisco Giants at the start of the 2019 season. He would play one season with the Giants before being non-tendered and made a free agent. He would sign a one year deal with the Boston Red Sox before being traded midway through the season to the Colorado Rockies, where he would finish the year. He is currently a free agent.

Dalton Pompey – Outfielder/Pinch Runner

2016 Stats: 2 plate appearances; .000/.000/.000; .000 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: N/A

2020 Stats: N/A

Another Toronto Blue Jays internal prospect, Canadian Dalton Pompey was given the keys to center field to start 2015 but lost the gig after struggling throughout the first month. He would spend most of the 2016 season down in AAA, and when he was finally called back up to the Blue Jays roster, he was mostly used as a pinch-runner and as a defensive replacement. While he was added to the 2016 ALCS roster, he did not see any game time.

Pompey would miss the entire 2017 season after suffering a concussion during the World Baseball Classic and would be designated for assignment midway through the 2019 season, seeing only limited action in 2018. Pompey would sign a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the 2020 season but would be released before the season began later that summer. He is currently a free agent.

Michael Saunders – Left Field

2016 Stats: 558 plate appearances; .253/.338/.478; .815 OPS; 24 home runs; 57 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 14 plate appearances; .429/.429/.643; 1 home run; 1 RBI

2020 Stats: N/A

Another Canadian outfielder in the lineup, Victoria native Michael Saunders found his way to the Toronto Blue Jays via trade with the Seattle Mariners in the 2014/2015 off-season. As the Blue Jays primary left fielder in 2016, Saunders put up career highs in doubles (32), home runs (24), and walks (59), enough to earn himself a trip to the midsummer classic. He would also have a successful ALCS run for the Blue Jays, hitting a home run while also collecting six hits in 14 plate appearances.

Saunders would leave the following off-season and sign a one year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. The tenure would be short-lived, as he would be designated for assignment midway through the season and would return to the Blue Jays to finish out the year. After some failed MiLB contracts with various teams throughout 2018 and 2019, Saunders announced his retirement on October 15th, 2019, and signed on to become the manager for the Atlanta Braves rookie league affiliate Danville Braves. While the team is no longer associated with the Braves (the Appalachian League was redone to become a collegiate league), Saunders is still listed as the manager.

Melvin Upton Jr. 

2016 Stats (Blue Jays only): 165 plate appearances; .196/.261/.318; .578 OPS; 4 home runs; 16 RBI

2016 ALCS Playoff Stats: 5 plate appearances; .000/.000/.000; .000 OPS; 0 home runs; 0 RBI

2020 Stats: N/A

After spending 8 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Melvin Upton Jr. (now know once again as B.J. Upton) spent a few seasons with the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres before the friars shipped Upton to the Blue Jays at the 2016 trade deadline. A versatile outfielder with power in the box and speed on the base paths, Upton was the perfect acquisition to help the Blue Jays secure another postseason run. Ultimately, the trade was a bit of a bust as Upton wasn’t able to get his average over .200 and while he played well in the ALDS against the Texas Rangers (.333/.429/1.000 with one home run and one RBI), he wasn’t able to find success against the Cleveland Indians, striking out in all four of his plate appearances.

Upton would start the 2017 season with the Blue Jays but would be released from the roster just as the season began. He would sign minor league deals with the San Francisco Giants (2017) and the Cleveland Indians (2018), but he would never play another MLB game. The outfielder is now turning towards a media career in baseball.