Blue Jays: New veterans bringing a fresh identity to the Jays

Now fully healthy, Kevin Kiermaier knows his role

When the Blue Jays announced the signing of Kevin Kiermaier, many fans were left wondering why they would sign the long-time rival who seemed to be on the decline and was coming off season-ending hip surgery last year.

The 10-year veteran feels he still has more to offer and knows what it takes to win, having been to the postseason four separate times with the Rays.

While Kiermaier "leads with non-stop energy" according to Ethan Diamandas of Yahoo!, he also understands the culture that the front office is attempting to build. He understands that winning championships requires not just talent but "talented players who care."

It's a great privilege to play for such a great organization and for a country. No other team in the big leagues can say that. I'm thrilled. I can't wait to show everybody what I bring to the table and what I offer. I promise you, I'll care more than anybody in that clubhouse. I'll do whatever it takes to win. I want to pop a bunch of champagne.

Now that the 32-year-old center fielder is fully healthy he knows what he can bring to the table on the field. Per MLB.com's Keegan Matheson, Kiermaier understands his role. Hitting at the bottom of the lineup, his job is to get on base, cause havoc and set the table for the top-of-the-order.

So far, so good for Kiermaier, who is slashing a healthy .400/.438/.567 through 12 games with three doubles, a triple and five RBI.

The three-time Gold Glover is also focused on regaining his place as a premier center fielder and has looked good early on.

He's leading a vaunted outfield defense, with Daulton Varsho and fellow veteran George Springer by his side and has already put his stamp on the new-look outfield.

David Singh of Sportsnet reports that Kiermaier has introduced a new outfield communication method. Kiermaier told Singh that he "figures his 'unorthodox' method will flourish with the Blue Jays' talented alignment."

At the plate, in the field or behind the scenes, Kiermaier has found a leadership role with his new club and will find multiple ways to contribute to the team's success this season.

Next: Brandon Belt brings World Series clout to the Blue Jays.

Brandon Belt brings his World Series credentials to Toronto

After 12 seasons with the San Francisco Giants, Brandon Belt is bringing serious veteran leadership to the Blue Jays, backed by 1,310 games played and two World Series rings.

After arriving at camp, Belt immediately showed his experience and character through how he handled himself. According to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun, the 34-year-old took the time to work the room, getting to know his new teammates and getting comfortable in his new environment. Belt wants his influence on the club to develop naturally, per Longley.

"There’s a lot of chances to have good talks around the batting cage," Belt told Longley. "My plan is to not push any of it. But if it comes up organically, I can share my experiences that I've had over my 12-year career."

That sounds like a man who knows exactly why the Blue Jays brought him into the fold.

Coming off knee surgery that cut short his 2022 season, Belt looks to regain his form at the plate and provide left-handed power. His 29 home runs in 97 games in 2021 show potential for him to be an impact player in the DH spot or off the bench late in games.

After getting a late start due to the surgery, Belt has only 14 plate appearances so far, but has looked strong, slashing .364/.500/.545 with a pair of doubles.

While it remains to be seen how much Belt can contribute between the lines, there's no doubt the longtime Giant will be a valuable asset to the younger Blue Jays as they experience the highs and lows that come with the pressure of being a team most mark as a dangerous contender this season.

As Belt told Longley, "I've been through a lot. I've had a lot of ups and downs and a lot of experiences I can share with them and hopefully help them out."

Next: Chris Bassitt is already influencing the pitching staff.

Chris Bassitt is already influencing the pitching staff

After signing a three-year deal with the Blue Jays, Chris Bassitt is penciled in as the number four starter and will help solidify one of the deepest rotations in the majors. That's not all he brings to his new club, however.

As the Toronto Sun's Rob Longley reports, the veteran right-hander didn't take long to impress his new teammates. Bassitt has "been a constant presence at bullpen sessions and starts by his fellow pitchers, soaking up everything he can about those he'll be going to battle alongside."

Fellow veteran starter Kevin Gausman understands how much influence veteran players can have and thinks Bassitt has already made an impression on the other pitchers.

"When you bring in a veteran guy like that, everybody can look and see how it's supposed to be done and it just raises everybody's expectations," Gausman told Longley.

On the mound, Bassitt brings a new wrinkle to the rotation with the variety of pitches he throws. With eight pitches now in his arsenal, his rotation mates are excited to have him on the staff.

"Having a guy like Bassitt, whoever is the day after him is going to have a lot of fun because he throws 10 different pitches and can really mess guys up," Gausman told Longley. "I've been on a lot of staffs where guys have pretty similar stuff and it's just like teams could figure out a plan of attack. In a four-game series, you don't know what you're going to get from us."

The former All-Star also brings a competitive edge to the Blue Jays, having played alongside Max Scherzer, one of the fiercest competitors in the game. Bassitt is using that experience and looking to help his pitching peers gain an advantage wherever they can.

As previously discussed, the 34-year-old recently spoke with Rob Friedman ("The Pitching Ninja") and discussed pushing the envelope and gaining a competitive advantage with the new pitch clock rules.

"Being around Max for a year and us knowing this was all coming, we had a lot of talks over how we'd use this. He's pushing the envelope early," Bassitt told Friedman.

While the starters each have their own unique style, adding Bassitt's fresh, veteran influence and competitive spirit to the mix gives the rotation a new identity and the other pitchers a new perspective to lean on and learn from.