Who will be the starting second baseman for the Blue Jays in 2023?

A Creative Solution

As I’ve already said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Blue Jays stayed with the status quo as they begin the 2023 season, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they decided to get creative either. What do I mean by that? How about using their top prospect Gabriel Moreno more at a secondary position?

Moreno is one of the top catching prospects in baseball, but he’s not your typical backstop due to his elite athletic ability. We got to witness some of that versatility as the Blue Jays moved him around the field during the last game of the season, but his abilities make what we saw anything but a gimmick.

The biggest reason that I’m personally entertaining the idea (not that I have any say) is I’m not really sold on the idea of trading Moreno this winter unless the return warrants the move in a big way. The Blue Jays have an embarrassment of riches at the catching position, and while it’s possible that they could trade Danny Jansen or even Alejandro Kirk instead, I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that they could look to keep all three. By the end of this past season both Kirk and Jansen were lineup regulars between catching and the DH spot, and if that were to continue it would be hard to make room for Moreno.

Of course, that aforementioned athletic ability has landed him professional experience at a few different positions, and with his elite hitting tool in tow as well, I don’t think it’s out of the question that he could see reps at second base. The Blue Jays have long been fans of versatility, and it could be a creative solution that allows them to keep all three of their talented catchers.

Do I think this is going to happen? I can’t say that I do, as I think the temptation to use an area of roster depth and strength will be too great as they pursue pitching upgrades over the winter. There’s no doubt that plenty of rival GM’s will be calling and asking for the going rate on a starting catcher, but if Atkins can’t bring himself to let any of them go, there might be a solution to find room for everyone.