Blue Jays: Players who could be dropped before Opening Day

Trent Thornton

A workhorse for the Blue Jays back in 2019, right-hander Trent Thornton has been put in an awkward position where he has the ability to start games but is used more as a reliever at the big league level.

While he did begin his career as a starter, Thornton has transitioned more to a relief-type role with spot start potential but has struggled to keep runs off the board. Last season alone saw Thornton allow 26 earned runs through 49.0 innings, earning a 1.429 WHIP with a 4.78 ERA through 39 appearances. He especially fell out of favour with the Blue Jays fanbase, with social media blowing up (in an unfavourable way) when the righty entered the ballgame.

The former fifth-round pick of the Houston Astros back in 2016 has most likely transitioned to a full-time relief pitcher at this point in his career but is more of a longshot when it comes to securing an Opening Day roster spot.  That being said, Thornton does have two minor league options available but if the front office is more interested in keeping Saucedo or Snead, there is a scenario where I could see the North Carolina product be DFA’d to make room for outside reinforcements.