Blue Jays: Obvious, interesting, and drastic changes to make

The drastic

And for my third and final idea today, I’ll start by admitting that I don’t think it’s going to happen, and even that I’m not sure it’s the best solution. That said, I think there’s a strong argument that Montoyo and the Blue Jays should at least consider flipping some defensive positions around.

I think there are a few different ways to approach this, but to me, it’s about making what I believe are two obvious changes that need to happen. One, Cavan Biggio really doesn’t look like an everyday third baseman to anybody right now, and I’m willing to bet it’s not helping his performance as a hitter either. Two, I’m losing faith in Lourdes Gurriel Jr‘s ability to be an effective outfielder.

If I were filling out the lineup card, I’d strongly consider flipping their defensive positions.

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It’s not ideal for Biggio, but left field should take some pressure off of him on defence. He doesn’t have Gurriel Jr’s throwing arm, but that’s a luxury for a left fielder, and it’s often a spot reserved for weaker armed outfielders. Biggio’s best position is probably still at second base, but I like the chemistry that’s developing with Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien at the keystone. They’ve also already asked Semien to change positions and he’s made a smooth transition to second base.

The biggest motivation for the move to me would be utilizing Gurriel Jr’s throwing arm at the hot corner, which would be a big upgrade. It wouldn’t be ideal to try another position switch after he moved from second base to left field a couple years ago, but I’m not really sold on him in left anymore. His route-running still needs a fair bit of improvement, and his instincts and decision making have been questionable so far in 2021.

I’m not sure if the Blue Jays are prepared to mess with his spot on the diamond on defence, but I’d certainly be interested in seeing how Gurriel Jr. and Biggio would look if the swapped positions. You could make the argument for moving other players around, but the more I think about it, this is the swap I’d be inclined to try first.

With the slow start to the season for most of the rest of the AL East as well, the Blue Jays don’t necessarily have to feel a desperate urgency to make some changes. That said, sometimes a shake-up or a tweak here and there can make all the difference in the world, and I think it’s time to make some adjustments.