Building a Blue Jays starting lineup based on a single season

The Toronto Blue Jays have had plenty of players record special seasons in the nearly 50 years of the franchise. As such, it's a bit challenging to put together an all-time starting lineup from all the team's eras.

However, a starting lineup based on all the best players in a single season in Blue Jays history would compete against the best from any other franchise.

Creating a Blue Jays starting lineup based on a single season

With nine positions and a designated hitter, all 10 of these Blue Jays had a season that stands out among the franchise's best.

Pitcher- Roger Clemens, 1997

Some might have a negative opinion about Clemens due to his connection to the steroid era. However, no one can deny how talented he was in his two years as a Blue Jay — especially the 1997 season.

Clemens won the pitching triple crown, which also helped him in that year's Cy Young. Clemens had a 21-7 record, 2.05 ERA, 292 strikeouts, nine complete games and three shutouts in 264 innings. He generated an impressive 11.9 bWAR.

Clemens' 1997 season will go down as one of the best in Blue Jays history.

Catcher- Russell Martin, 2015

It should come as no surprise that this list has a player from the 2015 team that won the American League East.

Martin played four seasons in Toronto, but his 2015 season was his best. It marked his first season in Toronto, and he was a huge factor in help Toronto reach the postseason for the first time since 1993.

Martin hit a career-high 23 home runs in 2015 while also driving in 77 runs and hitting 23 doubles. Martin's pitch framing behind the plate also gave the Blue Jays a huge boost, and helped Russell earn his first career All-Star nod.

1B- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 2021

Guerrero had a lot of criticism surrounding him in his first two MLB seasons. In 2021, he put all the critics to rest with a career year.

Guerrero became a first-time All-Star thanks to some incredible production He led the American League with 48 home runs and also had 111 RBI. He led the American League in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS and also led all of baseball in runs scored.

He finished second in AL MVP voting behind Shohei Ohtani, but did take home a Silver Slugger.

2B- Marcus Semien, 2021

Semien only spent one season with the Blue Jays, but it was arguably the best season by a second baseman in franchise history.

In his one and only season as a Blue Jay, Semien became a first-time All-Star. His 45 home runs and 102 runs batted are still tops in his career.

Semien finished third in AL MVP voting and also won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger for the first time in his career.

3B- Josh Donaldson, 2015

Donaldson's inclusion on this list shouldn't come as a surprise — nor should the fact the season selected is his MVP season.

In 2015, Donaldson became the second Blue Jay to ever win AL MVP, and he was a key reason why the Blue Jays won the division.

Donaldson set career-highs with 41 home runs and 123 RBI, which led the American League. He also led all of MLB in runs scored (123).

It took just one season for the "Bringer of Rain" to become a Blue Jays fan favorite, and his 2015 will forever be a special year in Toronto.

SS- Bo Bichette, 2021

Another 2021 Blue Jay had made the list. This time, it's Bichette at shortstop.

Just like Guerrero and Semien, Bichette became a first-time All-Star in 2021.

Bichette led the AL with 191 hits and also Bichette set career-highs with 29 home runs and 102 RBI. He also hit a solid .298 on the season.

Some might consider shortstop a weak position in Toronto's history, but Bichette's 2021 season was solid.

LF- George Bell, 1987

Before Donaldson won the AL MVP as a Blue Jay, there was George Bell. In 1987, Bell made Blue Jays history.

Bell became the first Blue Jay to win MVP in 1987, and he also became a first-time All-Star thanks to a phenomenal one. Bell hit a career-high 47 homes runs and led the AL with 134 RBI.

Bell's 1987 season also resulted in his third consecutive Silver Slugger win. Of all of Bell's nine seasons in Toronto, 1987 sticks out the most.

CF- Vernon Wells, 2003

Wells will forever be a fan favorite and Blue Jay legend for spending the first 12 years of his career with the organization. That said, his 2003 stands out among the rest.

Wells became a first-time All-Star, and he did it in spectacular fashion. Wells led the MLB with 215 hits to go along with 33 home runs, 49 doubles and 117 RBI. He also hit .317.

He crowned his increidble season by winning the Gold Glove for the first time in his career.

RF- José Bautista, 2010

There wasn't any doubt that Bautista was going to crack this lineup; instead, the biggest question was going to be which season was going to make the list. And, of all of Joey Bats' seasons, his 2010 season will go down in as one of the best in Blue Jays history.

After hitting just 13 home runs in 2009, Bautista surged in 2010. Bautista became the first Blue Jay to hit 50 home runs in a single season when he finished the year with an MLB-leading 54 home runs. He also recorded a career-high 124 RBI

Bautista became a first-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger for the first time in his career. Bautista's 2010 season was the start of a legend being born in Toronto.

DH- Edwin Encarnación, 2016

At last, the designated hitter. And Edwin Encarnación being the selection shouldn't be much of a surprise.

Encarnación's best season was his final season in Toronto. He recorded career-highs with 42 homes runs and 127 runs batted in. His 127 RBI was tied for the most in the AL.

Encarnación also gave Blue Jays fans a moment they'll never forget when he hit the walk-off home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the 2016 American League Wild Card Game.

Unfortunately he followed that career year by signing with Cleveland prior to the 2017 season. Cleveland was fresh off beating Toronto in the 2016 ALCS, so some may have felt betrayed. Regardless, Encarnación's 2016 season is one to remember in Toronto.