Blue Jays Projected Roster and Lineup

This offseason has been a strong one for the Toronto Blue Jays in my opinion.

This winter we saw the acquisitions of Aledmys Diaz, Yangervis Solarte, Curtis Granderson, and Randal Grichuk, which appeared to me the Blue Jays focused heavily on position players to help their batting order and depth issues and leaving behind the need for pitching.

Many would say the Blue Jays should be focusing harder on the bullpen and starting rotation, but it was known they wouldn't dive hard for overpriced pitching.

I say overpriced pitching, because, well... they are. Like, who's going to be paying $17 million a season for a closer? Oh, wait, the Colorado Rockies. Yes, they simply fell victim to the latest bad contract signing. I'm happy the Blue Jays did not get sucked in.

Back on Track

Yes, the Blue Jays could use pitching help, but not in the rotation. Their weakness this year will be their bullpen. Recently trading away Domonic Leone and Connor Greene for Randal Grichuk goes to show the front office values bats over pitching.

The bullpen will heavily rely on young closer, Roberto Osuna. Osuna has been stellar during his time in the big leagues, but will his huge workload from recent years catch up to him this season? With little to no one else who can slot in, in the closer role, the Blue Jays are going to need to make a splash, but through a trade and not in free agency.

I don't 100 percent believe they should just be focusing on just the bats, but having a better batting order is something they needed to focus on after a horrendous season offensively a year ago when they finished 26th in that category. The recent acquisitions of Diaz, Solarte, Granderson, and Grichuk will help mightily with depth issues the Blue Jays had in the past.

The starting rotation will look solid going into the 2018 campaign, which will be headlined by Marcus Stroman who sported a 3.09 ERA and posted 164 strikeouts. Having a below average season a year ago, I'm looking for the starting rotation to improve when the Blue Jays get a full year of a healthy Aaron Sanchez. Sanchez was slowed down a year ago when dealing with blister issues on his index finger on his throwing hand, but is a player who can make a big impact as he showed in 2016 when posting a 15-2 record and a 3.00 ERA with a 4.9 WAR.

Let's look into what the opening day roster should look like, finally.

Starting Pitching

1. Marcus Stroman
2. J.A. Happ
3. Marco Estrada
4. Aaron Sanchez
5. Joe Biagini

Bullpen

1. Roberto Osuna (CL)
2. Ryan Tepera
3. Danny Barnes
4. Aaron Loup
5. Carlos Ramirez
6. Matt Dermody
7. Tim Mayza

Line-Up vs. Right-Handers

1. 2B - Devon Travis (RH)
2. 3B - Josh Donaldson (RH)
3. 1B - Justin Smoak (SH)
4. DH - Kendrys Morales (SH)
5. RF - Randal Grichuk (RH)
6. SS - Troy Tulowitzki (RH)
7. LF - Curtis Granderson (LH)
8. C - Russell Martin (RH)
9. CF - Kevin Pillar (RH)

Bench:

1. SS/3B/2B - Aledmys Diaz (RH)
2. 2B/3B/OF - Yangervis Solarte (SH)
3. OF - Steve Pearce (RH)
4. OF - Ezequiel Carrera (LH)

With no other real option at the leadoff spot, I'm putting Devon Travis there. Alright speed, good contact, good power, and a good eye. It's a no-brainer, really.

Oh, the curious case of Justin Smoak. Breaking out (finally) Smoak was arguably the team's best player all year round. (Yes, including Josh Donaldson). Hitting 38 bombs, 90 RBI, while posting a batting average of .270 calls for team MVP. This was no fluke. Smoak was a top prospect when first coming into the league, but he never really could find his stroke or place in the Majors. After failing in Texas, and Seattle, the Blue Jays took the flyer on him, in hopes of a turn around. It took a couple years, but boy did he ever. He will continue to mash for the Blue Jays and will be a key player in a playoff push.

With most players slotting in, in there normal spots from last season, it's nice to see a left handed bat slotted, in Curtis Granderson. Twenty-six home runs a year ago, Granderson will provide the left handed power the Blue Jays have been missing from years past when fielding a right-handed heavy batting order.

I have Randal Grichuk batting over Troy Tulowitzki for one obvious reason, and that's power. I like the five hole having power and Tulo's power has diminished the last few years while with the Blue Jays. I don't belive it's coming back this season. Tulo is in the regressing years of his career, and I think it's time for him to make a change in either his approach at the plate, or in other areas.

The bench looks way better than it did a year ago. Wow. I am impressed with the overhaul that took place with the depth issues. Adding in a power switch hitter like Yangervis Solarte helps in all aspects, and when an injury occurs, he will slot in no matter where that injury may be (besides catcher and pitcher). Aledmys Diaz will also help with the depth issues and will provide the bench with some much needed power. He too can slot in when a key injury occurs, but in the outfield. Diaz had an off year, a year ago with the St. Louis Cardinals, but it being his sophomore season, I did see it coming. The Cardinals gave up much too early on this young former all-star shortstop, and I think they will be regretting letting him go by seasons end.

Line-Up vs. Left-Handers

1. 2B - Devon Travis (RH)
2. 3B - Josh Donaldson (RH)
3. 1B - Justin Smoak (SH)
4. DH - Kendrys Morales (SH)
5. RF - Randal Grichuk (RH)
6. SS - Troy Tulowitzki (RH)
7. LF - Steve Pearce (RH)
8. C - Russell Martin (RH)
9. CF - Kevin Pillar (RH)

Bench:

1. SS/3B/2B - Aledmys Diaz (RH)
2. 2B/3B/OF - Yangervis Solarte (SH)
3. OF - Curtis Granderson (LH)
4. OF - Ezequiel Carrera (LH)

The only real change here from the line-up vs. right handers is Steve Pearce coming in for Curtis Granderson. Granderson is god awful vs. lefties, which was proven last year when he posted a .202 batting average with only five home runs against southpaws.

There will be some players knocking on the door of the 25-man roster for the Blue Jays this season, so no spot on this team is safe - more so the outfield. Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who was acquired from the Houston Astros at last year trade deadline, will be leading that pack looking for a job, as well as top 100 prospect, OF Anthony Alford.

As the roster starts to take shape and we stand only a month away from Spring Training, do you think the Toronto Blue Jays need to make anymore moves? Email questions at [email protected].