BLUE JAYS LOOK TO RESET ROSTER IN BASEBALL'S UNOFFICIAL SECOND HALF OF SEASON
When they most recently played at the Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays wrapped up a 3-5 homestand with a 5-3 loss to the Houston Astros — their 12th defeat in 14 games.
The setback dropped the Jays nine games under .500, a season-worst for a club that has experienced far more lows than highs.
“We all know and understand that we should be better, and we can be better,” George Springer remarked following the loss to his former team. “But you don’t want to try to get it all back at once.
“You’ve got to keep going and see what happens. Our team has a job to do and that’s to play to the best of our abilities and not really be concerned about what lies ahead.
“The best thing for me, for us, for everybody, is to concentrate on the day, hopefully learn something, whether it’s good, bad or indifferent and, when it comes to the future and next year, hopefully we’re in a much better position.”
The Jays are back home following the respectable 5-4 road swing, then baseball’s all-streak break, but not much has changed. At 44-52, they sit 9.5 games back of the third and final wild-card slot, in which 53-42 Boston resides.
At this stage, wins and losses become inconsequential. But the Jays are in a position where they have to audition as many players as they can as they look to next season knowing this campaign is over — even if the math says there’s the slimmest of chances.
Rookie callup Spencer Horwitz, has flourished in his expanded role and it’s clear the Jays must have him in the everyday lineup, regardless of what moves are made in the weeks leading up to trade deadline day.
Getting as many at-bats as possible for Davis Schneider and Ernie Clement, while allowing Leo Jimenez to play as often as he can, should be paramount. Steward Berroa (who made his MLB debut in Arizona last weekend) could also get an extended run,
Addison Barger, who has been called up twice this season, may even be given a third shot.
Maybe Orelvis Martinez gets a late look once his 80-game suspension is lifted. Technically, the team’s No. 1 hitting prospect, who violated MLB’s PED policy, is eligible to return in late September.
For now, it’s not clear if the Jays would even want to bring him back for the final six games of the season.
Clearly, they also need to know what they have in relievers Brendon Little and Ryan Burr, who have acquitted themselves well when summoned. There’s also the ongoing assessment of Nate Pearson and Zach Pop.
This coming homestand, will be an occasion for fans to witness in person the end of the road for a handful of players in a Blue Jays uniform.
Baseball’s unofficial second half begins with the Jays home for a nine-game stretch against the Tigers, Rays and Rangers. When the Jays visit Baltimore following the homestand, it will coincide with baseball’s July 30 trade deadline.
Pending free agent Yusei Kikuchi would be an attractive trade target for any contending team looking for rotation depth.
Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is another who appears to be on the way out after being place recently on revocable waivers.
Other veterans potentially on the move are Justin Turner and Danny Jansen along with relievers Yimi Garcia and Trevor Richards.
The post-mortem on the 2024 Blue Jays began months ago, when everyone with even the slightest of baseball acumen knew this lineup was simply not good enough, compounded by a bullpen that has been depleted in the wake of injuries or poor performances.
Starting pitching has shown signs of regression after too much was being asked to compensate for a lacklustre offence.
In his final start before the break, Jose Berrios failed to strike out a single batter. As such, he is one pitcher worth monitoring as the unofficial second half begins.
Yariel Rodriguez is another worth following, one of the potential building blocks moving forward if he’s able to build on his past few starts when the Cuban right-hander looked the part of a big-league pitcher.
Veterans such as Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman are under team control beyond this season, but each would make a contending team look even better if the right trade package is presented to the Blue Jays.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, one of, if not the biggest, first-half surprises, isn’t expected to return from his knee setback during the homestand.
Bo Bichette’s calf issue should be cleared up, but his long-term future in Toronto is clouded.
The same could be said about Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the team’s lone representative at the all-star weekend, who once again expressed his desire to stay in Toronto.
At the same time, he acknowledged the business of baseball, a basic reality in pro sports that Bichette also fully grasps.
While baseball is back in town, this should be different looking Blue Jays team in a couple of weeks.
2024-07-18T18:47:54Z dg43tfdfdgfd