Ahoy hoy, everyone! Can you believe it? Spring training is finally somehow right around the corner. The Jays announced this week that pitchers and catchers workouts will begin for them on February 18th — next week! Teams also have until this Friday, February 12, to submit a list of a maximum 75 players for spring training. They will be allowed to continue to add players throughout the spring (as long as they don’t go over 75), but hopefully these deadlines spur on a final bout of player movement, just to ensure that guys get a full camp in before the season.
The Jays have a little bit of work on their roster still to do — a starting pitcher, a lefty bench bat, maybe a reliever, some warm bodies for the taxi squad — so hopefully we get some actual news this week.
But in case that doesn’t materialize, we’ll definitely have a mail bag! And here’s where you can ask me some questions for this week’s edition. Leave yours in the comments on the post below!
Obligatory addendum:
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AS, love the trajectory Jays are on. Making good moves this off-season, a budding young core, a well-regarded farm system. But aren't folks starting to expect too much from the Jays this year? An 85 win team certainly beats the 17 & 18 Jays, but is it really even a playoff team? A World Series contender? They seem half-pregnant to me. There are several upgrades still out there in free agency. Won't the Jays need to make a couple more moves this off-season to really be considered a contender? I know they can improve in-season via trades and up to trade deadline, but so will other teams. When the Angels, Red Sox and Indians are neck and neck with Jays on paper, feels like there is still some work to do.
Seems like the Jays could use an upgrade for the backup IF/bench bat spot. This would also allow Espinal to get a full AAA season in (if they go ahead). Ideally they get a LHB or SH.
Do any of Brad Miller (LHB), the return of Travis Shaw (LHB), Asdrubal Cabrera (SH) or Jedd Gyorko (RHB) grab your attention?